
Class Pi%G^_ 

Book ^B$S 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



/ 



/■f9 




Senor Don Emilio Aceval 

President of Paraguay 




Hr. William McKlnley 

President of the United States 



PARAGUAY: 

A Country of Vast Natural Resources, 

DELIGHTrUL CLIMATE, 
LAW-ABIDING PEOPLE, 

AND 

STABLE GOVERNMENT, , 
Rightly called the 

Paradise of South America. 



BY 

WILLIAM MILL BUTLER. 



PHILHDCLPHI7X: 

The Paraguay Development Company, 

1901. 




' tWuI ' rXsVof 
congress, 

Two Coma Reobved 

DFC, '22 190? 

OWVRKJHY fcN'fWf 

DLA& axXa Ha 
OOWf B. 



Copyright, 1901, 

By 

The Paraguay Development Comparry. 



<5~2 






IT IS the purpose of this little volume — by means of a handful of 
pictures, selected at random, and a few of the more important 

topics, arranged in alphabetical order for easy reference — to give 
our friends in the United States a glimpse of one of the most beautiful 
and attractive countries in the world, concerning which a former Director 
of the Bureau of American Republics aptly said in his published writings: 

"Situated as she is in the very heart of the continent; embraced 
and bisected by the grandest system of water transportation in the 
world i possessing a variety and extent of timber unequalled in propor- 
tion to her area by any nation on earth, immense and nutritious pastures, 
and a soil that is unsurpassed, Paraguay needs only capital and industry 
to become a rich and powerful nation. Nature has done no more for 
any land, and nowhere else can so large a remuneration be obtained for 
so small an outlay. M 

F. G. Carpenter, America's leading newspaper correspondent, is 
similarly enthusiastic, as can be seen from his recent book, describing 
his travels in South America, in which he says : ' ' Paraguay is the Para- 
dise of South America. Its climate is delightful. Its semi-tropical vege- 
tation is as luxuriant as that of the Garden of Eden.' ' 

The average temperature of the year in Paraguay is 74 degrees 
Fahrenheit, corresponding closely to that of Florida. Yellow fever, 
typhus, cholera and other epidemic diseases are unknown. Asun- 
cion, the capital, is a winter health resort for visitors from Argentina, 
Uruguay and other countries. 

There are in Paraguay four distinct varieties of soil — sand, red soil, 
humus and black soil. The fertility of the soil in general is phenomenal. 
It grows in luxuriant abundance all the products of temperate and trop- 
ical zones. In many kinds of products several crops are raised each year. 



PREFATORY REMARKS. 



Alfalfa, for example, yields six crops per annum. Water is abundant, 
the average yearly rainfall being 61.8 inches. No better conditions 
could be desired for agriculture, fruit growing, forestry and cattle raising. 

In addition to this, the mineral resources of the country are undoubt- 
edly immense, although but, little attention has been paid to them by a 
pastoral people, lacking capital for exploration and development. Iron 
abounds everywhere, and marble, copper, kaolin, and gold even, are 
spoken of in reports of travelers and others. 

Without entering here upon any details concerning the history of 
this favored and inviting land of promise, and referring our readers to 
the text which follows in regular order, we may say in passing that 
Paraguay is one of the best-governed and most peaceable countries in 
the world. Revolutions and political disturbances, such as unfortunately 
afflict many South American countries, are unknown there. If we except 
the efforts by which they easily shook off the yoke of Spain, the Para- 
guayan people had but one war, and that was in defence of their territory 
and existence as a nation. Contending single-handed against the com- 
bined forces of three of their most powerful neighbors, we shall search 
history in vain for a more heroic or sanguinary struggle against over- 
whelming odds. The population, which was over one million before the 
war, was cut down to 221,000 consisting mostly of women, old men and 
children. Their national existence was saved by the bloody sacrifice, but 
the natural result was a stagnation from which Paraguay is only recover- 
ing. From the proud position of a leader in South American civilization 
— it had the first railway, telegraph, shipyard and merchant and naval 
marine in that part of the world — it was reduced to poverty and distress, 
and had it not been for the wonderful productiveness of its soil and the 
virility and recuperative strength of the people, it must have succumbed to 
what seemed a cruel but certain fate. To-day, however, they are nearly 
a million strong again, and ready to push forward once more in the race 
for advancement and prosperity. Their form of government is in many 
respects closely modeled after that of the United States. The President 
of the Republic is an enlightened and able man who has traveled exten- 
sively and is personally familiar with the United States. He has a great 
admiration for our country and desires to establish closer commercial 
relations with it. In this desire he is seconded by Congress and by the 



PREFATORY REMARKS. 



most influential and substantial citizens and business men of the Repub- 
lic, without regard to class or political affiliations. 

The government of Paraguay is wisely and honestly administered. 
The foreign trade now amounts to over $5,000,000 annually and can be 
doubled in a few years with the introduction of capital and American 
enterprise. The public debt of the country amounts to $5,091,751.46 
which is less than eight dollars per capita, a remarkably low ratio as com- 
pared with other countries. In this statement no account is taken of the 
war indemnities asked for by Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, but at least 
one of these countries long since officially cancelled the obligation as 
unjustly imposed, and another has virtually agreed to do the same, as 
diplomatically announced some time ago, while the third is also said to 
be favorably inclined. 

The revenues of Paraguay are principally derived from import and 
export duties. To quote from the annual message of the President : 
" The Government has not only money enough to take care of its internal 
debt, but it has also the necessary funds to increase agriculture and 
cattle raising on a large scale.' ' In addition to this, immigration, pub- 
lic improvements and other matters pertaining to the welfare of the 
country are encouraged and provided for. 

We come now to a point where a brief reference to the Paraguay 
Development Company and its work may not be deemed inappropriate. 
The Government of Paraguay, following out its desire to establish more 
intimate relations with the United States, sent as a delegate to the Inter- 
national Commercial Congress and Export Exposition, held in Philadel- 
phia in 1899, Sefior Carlos Rodriguez Santos, a nephew of Gen. Cabal- 
lero, a soldier of the war of 1865-1870, who served his country with 
distinction, not only on the field of battle, but subsequently in the 
office of Chief Executive. 

Sefior Santos represented Paraguay at the gathering of the world's 
commercial leaders in Philadelphia with dignity and great ability, and 
when he left for home, at the adjournment of the Congress, he had 
succeeded in making arrangements for putting some of his ideas and 
those of his associates into practical execution. Among these ideas, for 
the advancement of the mutual interests of Paraguay and this country, 
was the organization, first of all, of a company, under the laws of the 



PREFATORY REMARKS. 



United States, and with the direct sanction and support of his Govern- 
ment, which should carefully study the needs of our sister republic and 
obtain the right, upon the most favorable terms, to take up successively 
those industries down there which would provide opportunities for the 
safe and remunerative investment of American capital. The result was 
the incorporation of the Paraguay Development Company, concerning 
which, and the work it has in hand, full particulars will be found in the 
body of this volume. We may add that Mr. Santos agreed to act as the 
Company's personal representative in Paraguay, and that through his 
efforts there was also enlisted in its behalf the valuable co-operation of 
Hon. A. A. Rutis, formerly South American representative of the Credit 
Lyonnaise of France, and now President of an American industrial con- 
cern whose capital stock is $10,000,000. Mr. Rutis was subsequently 
appointed Consul-General of Paraguay, with jurisdiction in ten States, in 
recognition of his services in behalf of international commerce. 

In concluding these prefatory remarks, we may state that the Gen- 
eral Manager of the Paraguay Development Company (formerly chief of 
one of the departments of the celebrated Philadelphia Commercial 
Museum) recently sailed for Paraguay, accompanied by two engineers 
of the highest ability and reputation, for the purpose of making exhaustive 
investigations and reports upon the projects which the Company has in 
hand. Among these projects are valuable concessions already granted 
for electric lighting, traction and power; concessions to be granted for a 
steamship line, cotton mills, starch factory, slaughtering and cold-storage 
plant, water works, harbor improvements, and many other useful and 
desirable enterprises. For all of these the Paraguay Development Com- 
pany makes the necessary preliminary investigations, plans, surveys, etc. , 
conducts negotiations, and obtains concessions, contracts and rights. It 
is then in a position to invite outside capital to come in and join in the 
execution of the various projects, for several of which it already has 
assured all the financial support that will be necessary. 

The Company is especially proud of the fact that in all its under- 
takings it has had the unqualified approval and support of the Paraguayan 
Government, as well as the good will of the United States Government, 
expressed through the State Department. The President of Paraguay, 
in his annual message, delivered to Congress, on April 1, recommended 



PREFATORY REMARKS. 



the granting of the subsidy for a steamship line as proposed by this 
Company, and expressed pleasure upon the granting of previous conces- 
sions. Before the departure of the Company's representatives for Para- 
guay, his best assurances of a warm welcome were also received by cable. 
In the next edition of our booklet we hope to give the results of our 
friendly expedition to Paraguay, and much additional information, which 
will undoubtedly tend to further strengthen the commercial and indus- 
trial ties of two friendly nations. 



ste 




$1 PARAGUAY $ 

^ *77re Paradise qf South America ^ 



Agriculture is the principal source of wealth for Paraguay, although 
very little cultivation of land by machinery has as yet been done. Labor 
is very cheap and the soil so fertile that very little effort is necessary to 
secure the bounties of nature. The chief difficulty is to clear the ground 
from stumps of trees. The wise policy of the government in encouraging 
immigration has resulted in the founding of a number of colonies (^. v.) 
which do much to advance the progress of agriculture. (See, also, 
1 ' Products of Paraguay. ' ' ) 

Air. The air in Paraguay is so pure that fresh meat can be kept for 
several days in summer without spoiling. (See, also, " Winds/') 

Alfalfa. This very desirable food for cattle grows luxuriantly in 
Paraguay, no less than six crops being realized per annum. The Presi- 
dent's message states that during the year 1900 about 2,800 acres were 
under cultivation. 

Area. The total area of Paraguay — including the Chaco (q. v. ) or 
Indian territory — is officially given by the government as 317,000 square 
kilometers, which are equal to 122,664 square miles. Exclusive of the 
Chaco, the official figures are 238,290 square kilometers, or 92,000 
square miles. In its entirety the area of the Republic equals the com- 
bined area of the States of New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 
(See, "Boundaries," and "Population.") 

Army. Military service is obligatory for all male citizens between 
the ages of eighteen and fifty-five, but the standing army consists of only 
500 men, 150 horse and 350 foot, and is maintained chiefly to preserve 
internal order. President Aceval in his message to Congress, April 1, 
1 90 1, states that the reorganization of the army, under the law of August 
22, 1898, in accordance with the demands of the general progress of the 
country has the earnest attention of the government. By a decree of 
December 12, 1900, the first enlistments having been declared closed, 
the creation of six regiments of what will be known as the National 
Guard was proceeded with. Officers were appointed and the General 
Inspector of Militia organized an academy of instruction. The govern- 



ASUNCION. 



ment has students at the Military and Naval Colleges of Buenos Aires 
and Santiago, Chile. The President's message also says: " The mili- 
tary commands, captaincies of the coast, and maritime commissaries duly 
fulfil their duties and have at their command the indispensable elements 
for the service with which they are entrusted." (See, also, '''Navy.") 

Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, occupies an area of about 16 
square miles, and is situated in the midst of a fertile territory, on the east- 
ern bank of the River Paraguay, which has a width here of more than 600 
yards. The city is built on the edge of a plateau which has a relative 
height of about 200 feet. Its streets cross each other at right angles and 
so slope toward the river that the rains keep them well washed. Asuncion 
was founded on August 15, 1536, on the feast of the Asumption, whence 
it derived its name. It was one of the earliest Spanish settlements in 
South America, and antedates St. Augustine, Florida (the oldest city 
founded by Europeans in the United States), by thirty years. About 
1547 it was made a bishopric. 

Asuncion has always been the seat of the government, with the excep- 
tion of a short time during the only war which the country ever had 
(see, "War") when Luque was made the provisional capital. Asun- 
cion suffered severely at the hands of the Allies, being bombarded and 
taken in 1869. Its population before the war was estimated at 40,000. 
The census of 1876 gave 19,463 ; the census of 1886, 25,724; that of 
October, 1900, 51,719, as reported in the President's annual message to 
Congress. In the last-mentioned figures are included 23,106 males, and 
28,613 females. The number of foreigners was 4,541. 

With renewed prosperity throughout the country and the develop- 
ment of its immense resources and latent industries, it is estimated by a 
former United States Vice-Consul, who resided there for sixteen years 
(Dr. E. M. Flagg, now of Philadelphia), that the population of Asuncion 
will double within the next ten years. Water works, sewers and other 
local improvements are therefore imperative, even though the capital is 
one of the healthiest cities in the world. (See, "Climate.") The 
President's message alludes with satisfaction to the letting of the contract 
for electric lighting, which, together with electric traction and power is 
to be supplied by the Asuncion Electric Lighting and Traction Com- 
pany, a branch of the Paraguay Development Company. 

The last census above mentioned, also shows that Asuncion has 
570 commercial houses with an aggregate capital of about $5,000,000,* 
and 253 industrial establishments with a total capital of about $15,000,- 
000. Among these are tanneries, breweries, distilleries, flour mills, 

* Gold ; unless otherwise stated, all values given in this volume are on a gold 
basis ; for value in Paraguayan paper currency, multiply by 8. 



io BANANAS. 



factories for making soap, matches, bricks, earthenware, palm-leaf hats 
and many other articles of native consumption. Its port is the most 
important in the interior of South America, and its harbor will, when 
the improvements now contemplated have been made, be ample for a 
city ten times its present size. 

Asuncion has six well-conducted daily papers ; a national library 
and museum ; an active commercial organization, the Centro 
Commercial; and many other institutions and prominent buildings, 
among which may be mentioned the following : Agricultural College, 
Banco Agricola, Banco de Los Rios, Banco Mercantil, Banco Territorial, 
Barracks, Cathedral, Cancha Theater, Central Market, Custom House, 
Encarnation Church, Government Warehouse (formerly Lopez Theater), 
Hotels — Hispano, Americano, Franco-Argentino, de France, and La 
Borde ; House of Congress, Lutheran Church, Mausoleum of Lopez, 
Methodist Church and Schools for boys and girls, National College, 
National Palace, Normal School for Girls, National Theater, Old Port 
Market, Paraguay Central Railway Station, Prison, San Roque Church, 
Tribunales. New Barracks and a Military Hospital are to be erected on 
Tacumbu Heights. 

The capital is esteemed as a winter health resort by the people of 
Buenos Aires, Montevideo and other points. Frank G. Carpenter, in 
his recent book of travels in South America says : "Although Asuncion 
is older than any city in North America, it appears delightfully new and 
bright." 

Bananas grow luxuriantly in Paraguay, and are a staple article of 
food. (See, "Products.") 

Banks. Paraguay has ably conducted and responsible financial 
institutions. The leading banks are located in Asuncion, and among these 
the most useful is undoubtedly the Banco Agricola, or Agricultural Bank 
which is under direct government management and has for its object the 
advancement of the agricultural interests of the country. It has a capital 
of about $500,000 and makes loans on property to the amount of half the 
assessed value. It also helps the farmer to find a ready market for his 
crops. For example, in 1897 it bought all the cotton, paying 50 cents per 
arroba (25.35 pounds) with seeds, and $1.82 for every arroba without 
seeds. Through this bank the government also introduces seeds, tools 
and improvements in agriculture. A loan of $125,000 was made to the 
bank in 1899, to be applied to the advancement of agriculture and 
national industries. The government intends still further to increase 
the usefulness of this excellent institution. 

The Banco Territorial del Paraguay, established in 1887, has a 
capital of $250,000, and discounts, negotiates and collects bills, makes 



BIRTH-RATE. n 



investments in real estate, and does a general banking business. It paid 
a dividend of 12 per cent, in 1897. 

The Banco Mercantil del Paraguay, established in 1890, has had a 
phenomenal success. It paid a dividend of 15 per cent, in 1896, 16 per 
cent, in 1897 and 18 per cent, in 1898. Its authorized capital is $625,- 
000, and of this one-half had been subscribed in 1898. In addition to 
doing a general banking business, this bank also makes collections at 
home and abroad, advances money on tobacco and other products, and 
sells the same on consignment. It pays interest on deposits as follows : 
At 90 days' notice, 4 per cent.; at 120 days' notice, 5 per cent., and 
for longer periods, 6 per cent. 

The Banco de los Rios & Co. was founded by Vicente Nougues and 
G. de los Rios, January 4, 1895, and has a capital of $125,000. In 
addition to a general banking business, it issues bills of exchange and let- 
ters of credit on leading cities in all parts of the world. In the United 
States it has correspondents in Chicago, New Orleans and San Francisco. 
Interest is paid on deposits as follows : At sight, 4 per cent.; at 30 
days' notice, 5 per cent.; at 60 days' notice, 7 per cent.; at 90 days' 
notice, 9 per cent.; at 6 months' notice, 10 per cent. On gold accounts 
4 per cent, interest is paid at 90 days' notice and 6 per cent, at 6 
months' notice. This bank owns thirty-six square leagues of yerba 
mate plantations in Rio Verde, the annual output of which is 2,500,000 
pounds of mate. 

In 1900 the establishment of the Caja de Credito Comercial was 
announced. This bank will pay special attention to the promotion of 
the foreign commerce of Paraguay. 

%i It seems to me," says F. G. Carpenter, " that there is a chance 
for some of our idle American funds in banking in Paraguay. The 
usual rate of interest outside the banks is 1 5 per cent. , and in the banks 
you cannot borrow money for less than one per cent, per month. The 
usual discount rate is 12 per cent. As a result the banks pay large 
dividends." 

Birth-Rate. (See, " Vital Statistics.") 

Boundaries. Paraguay is situated between 22 and 27 35' South 
Latitude, and 54 35' and 62 West Longitude. The Republic is 
bounded on the north by Bolivia and Brazil, on the east by Brazil and 
Argentina, and on the south and west by Argentina. On the eastern 
and southern boundary runs the River Parana ; to the west and north- 
west the Rivers Paraguay and Pilcomayo. The celebrated Guayra Falls 
are on the Parana, where the northern boundary between Paraguay and 
Brazil takes the direction of the mountains of Macarayu and Amambay. 



12 BUREAU OF INFORMATION. 

Bureau of Information. The Department of Immigration of 
the Government of Paraguay has a Bureau of Information which issues 
regularly in English and French a "Monthly Review/' and answers all 
inquiries concerning the resources and advantages of Paraguay. 

Butter is well liked in Paraguay, although consular reports say 
there are no butter factories in the country, with the exception of the 
dairies located in the German colony of San Bernardino. Butter retails 
at 35 to 40 cents per pound and the duty on imported butter is 50 
per cent, ad valorem. 

Carapegua. This town was founded in 1725, and has a population 
estimated at 13,000. It has many cattle, and is a centre for cotton, 
tobacco, sugar cane and mandioca. Among its industries are tile and 
brick factories, and starch, coarse cloth, handspun cotton textiles, and 
lace are also made. 

Cassava. (See, ' ' Mandioca. * ' ) 

Cattle Industry. Stock raising is destined to become the chief 
industry of Paraguay. Much of the country is naturally fitted for the 
fattening of cattle, as the pastures are green the year round and water is 
plentiful, so that the animals need comparatively little care. The season 
at which they become fat and fit for slaughter is about two months 
earlier than in Argentina and Uruguay, which is a decided advantage. 
The Chaco territory is especially well adapted for the industry, and good 
grazing lands can be purchased there at $1,000 per square league, or 
about 17^ cents per acre. A square league will support 1,000 cattle, 
and two herds of that number can be fattened on it each year. The 
President, in his annual message presented to Congress April 1, 1901, 
says the profits on cattle raising "may be calculated at from 20 to 35 
per cent. , according to the pasture and management. ' ' 

At the close of the war of 1865-1870 (See, "War,") the number of 
cattle left in Paraguay was estimated at 15,000 head. By 1877, the 
number had again increased to 200,525. In 1890 there were 861,- 
954, and in 1900, according to the President's recent message, 2,283,- 
039. In addition to this there were, in the last-named year, 214,058 
sheep; 107,426 mares; 75,364 horses; 32,334 goats; 23,887 hogs; 
4,067 asses, and 3,490 mules, making a grand total of 2,743,665. 

It is to be borne in mind in this connection, that up to the present 
time most of the cattle produced in Paraguay have been needed to sup- 
ply the home market, and about the only export has been in dried beef, 
for which there is a growing demand. With additional capital much 
could be done in extending this trade, but the greatest stimulus of all 



BEANS. 13 



for the entire cattle industry would be the establishment of slaughter 
houses, meat packing and refrigerating plants such as have made the 
beef and mutton of Argentina and Uruguay articles of daily consump- 
tion in Europe (and in this connection we may allude to the prediction 
of a former minister to Argentina — the Hon. William I. Buchanan — 
that in five years the United States will also look to South America for 
its meat supplies). 

What Argentina and Uruguay have accomplished Paraguay can 
equal, if not largely exceed, for she has many advantages to put up 
against their only advantage of being closer to the Atlantic seaboard. 
Paraguay cattle can be obtained and fattened cheaper ; they can be 
brought to market two months earlier, as already stated, and the Para- 
guayan government has passed a special law (October 4, 1900) granting 
exemptions and privileges to packing companies which alone will prove 
an advantage of several dollars per head over the heavily-taxed products 
of the other mentioned countries. It is the purpose of the Paraguay 
Development Company to establish a large packing and refrigerating 
plant in Paraguay, and negotiations with the government and capitalists 
are now in progress, with promise of good results. 

Beans. The bean crop is a large one in Paraguay, the acreage 
under cultivation during 1900 being larger than that of tobacco. The 
exact figures given in the President's message were 2,234,649 lines, 
which is equal to 44,693 acres. 

Business Integrity. (See, 6 ' Commerce. ' ' ) 

Castor Beans can be grown in enormous quantities in Paraguay, 
and they yield new crops practically all the year round. The number of 
plants set out during 1900 is given at 260,830 in the President's annual 
message. 

Chaco, Thea The Chaco or western section of Paraguay, lying 
between the rivers Paraguay and Pilcomayo, is an immense flat area 
covered with extensive forests and fertile plains. It contains a few 
higher elevations which are continuations of the watershed separating 
the waters of the Parana and the Amazon. Edmund Shaw, former 
U. S. Consul at Asuncion, says : "The general aspect of the Chaco 
is very pleasing to the eye. Forests of large and very superior trees, 
mostly evergreens, interchanged with rich pasture lands unexcelled for 
grazing purposes, meet the eye at every turn. The different kinds of 
woods which grow in these forests are mostly hard and very heavy. 
The soil is everywhere exceedingly rich, being black humus, loam and 
marl. All kinds of grain, sugar cane, tobacco and fruits can be grown 
there to perfection." 



14 CLIMATE. 



The most notable settlement in the Chaco is Villa Hayes, renamed 
in honor of the President of the United States for his just decision in 
the arbitration matter which was referred to him by Paraguay and Ar- 
gentina, and which involved the possession of a large portion of the 
Chaco. President Aceval in his last message states that the Chaco is 
being rapidly populated by stock raisers and important industrial estab- 
lishments, and that on this account the Government has proceeded to 
strengthen and improve the military posts existing at Bahia Negra and 
Fuerte Olimpo. These garrisons, together with that of Villa Hayes, 
serve as a police force for the whole region of the Chaco between the 
two rivers, and as far north as the boundaries of Brazil and Bolivia. 

There is an English missionary station one hundred miles back in 
the Chaco, whose headquarters are across the Paraguay River from Villa 
Conception. 

Climate. The climate of Paraguay, although semi-tropical, is very 
equable, thanks to the frequent rains, the great forests which attract the 
clouds, and to the fresh breezes which prevail during the warmest 
weather. Another advantage is that the climate is dry. United States 
Minister Finch, writing from Montevideo, January 19, 1899, calls 
attention to the fact, which is an evidence of the purity of the air, 
that fresh meat can be kept for several days during summer without 
becoming spoiled. 

The average yearly temperature is 23 degrees Celsius (equal to 74 
degrees Fahrenheit), but this is subject to variation by reason of topo- 
graphical conditions, so that in some localities it is from 3 to 5 degrees 
lower. The winter is so mild that many families from the River Plate 
go up to Asuncion every year. There are some exceptionally cold days 
in which the thermometer falls as low as 2 degrees Celsius below zero 
(equal to 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The highest temperature in the 
Summer is 40 degrees Celsius (equal to 104 degrees Fahrenheit). 
December, January and February are the warmest months of the year. 
During the other nine months the climate may be characterized as 
temperate. 

Foreigners who have visited Paraguay are unanimous in their 
admiration of the climate. Physicians declare that for salubrity, 
equality of temperature and health-restoring properties for consumptive 
patients it is unrivaled. It may be noted that there are on an average 
45 cold, 96 hot, and 224 moderately warm days during the year. In its 
entirety the climate of Paraguay may be said to resemble that of Florida 
and Lower California. 

Cocoanuts. Paraguayan cocoanuts are a peculiar product. The 
palm trees upon which they grow are to be found everywhere, generally 



COFFEE. 15 

in groves or in clumps rather than in forests. They produce two or three 
crops per year. The nuts grow in great bunches of little balls no larger 
round than a walnut, but of the same shape as the ordinary cocoanuts of 
commerce. These little cocoanuts are valuable as they contain a great 
deal of oil, which is obtained by grinding and pressing the kernels. 
The oil is largely used in making soap and can be employed for many 
other purposes. 

Coffee. The soil and climate of Paraguay are well adapted to the 
cultivation of coffee. Brazilian coffee is grown in the State of Matto 
Grosso, which borders directly on Paraguay. The President's annual 
message, delivered to Congress April 1, 1901, states that during the 
previous year 191,673 coffee plants were set out in Paraguay. The 
total number of plants under cultivation in 1898 was reported at 343,407 
and it was stated that all the product of the coffee plantations was being 
readily disposed of in the Asuncion market. 

Cold Storage. (See, "Cattle Industry.") 

Colonies. The liberal immigration laws of Paraguay, and the wise 
policy of the Government in fostering the establishment of agricultural 
settlements should attract a large foreign population when once generally 
known. Not only is the passage of immigrants paid from the ports of 
Buenos Aires and Montevideo to destination, but other advantages are 
extended including exemption from taxes for a period of ten years. 
(See, ' ' Immigration. ' ' ) Already ten flourishing colonies are in exist- 
ence in various parts of the Republic, with a combined population of 
over 3000. 

The earliest attempt at colonization in Paraguay appears to have 
been made shortly after the close of the war, by Messrs. Robinson, 
Fleming & Co., of London, who negotiated the English loans for the 
Paraguayan Government. Their attempt to establish an English colony 
of so-called Lincolnshire farmers did not meet with success. Subse- 
quent efforts on the part of the Government gave better results however, 
in the shape of what is to-day one of the finest colonies, San Bernar- 
dino. This was in 1881, and Nueva Germania followed in 1887; the 
National Colony in 1891; New Australia, William Tell Colony and 
Colony of the 25th of November in 1893; Cosme in 1894, besides 
others as will be found in the following brief sketches. 

Villa Hayes, the chief town in the Paraguayan Chaco, located 
across the river in sight of Asuncion, and in direct commuication with 
the Capital by steamboats, was originally founded in 1854 by Lopez 
with French settlers, being at first known as Nouvelle Bourdeaux and 
later as Villa Occidental. After the arbitration decision in favor of 



16 COLONIES. 



Paraguay, rendered by President Hayes, of the United States, the name 
of the colony was changed in his honor. The official report in 1898 
places the population at 287 persons, the major part being French, 
Swiss, Belgians and Italians. Among the products raised by the colon- 
ists are sugar cane, alfalfa, coffee, bananas and other fruits. Among 
the industries were cana distilleries, sugar-making establishments, brick 
factories and broom factories. 6,000 head of cattle, 400 horses, 300 
sheep and 100 swine were also reported. 

San Bernardino Colony is situated on the shore of Lake Ipacarai. 
It was founded in 1881 by the Government. Its location is excellent, 
being in communication with the railway station of Aregua by steamboat, 
so that the people send their products to the Asuncion market every 
day. The colony is composed of Germans and Swiss, and covers an 
area of twelve square miles. The colonists are mainly engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits, and also manufacture cheese and butter. There are 
beer breweries, distilleries, and other industrial establishments. Coffee, 
sugar cane, maize, mandioca, beans and all kinds of vegetables are grown. 
There are 4,000 cattle and 480 horses, according to a report made in 
1898. 

Neuva Germania Colony was founded in 1887 by Dr. Forster. It 
is situated in the department of San Pedro, near two affluents of the 
River Gegue, which empties into the Paraguay. The area of the colony 
is twelve square miles, and the population consisted, according to the 
report above mentioned, of 184 persons, mostly Germans and Swiss. 
Agriculture is the main pursuit, and among the products of the soil 
under cultivation are maize, mandioca, tobacco, beans, sugar cane, coffee, 
and various fruits. 

The National Colony, founded in 1891, by the Government is situ- 
ated in the department of Caazapa, on the railroad between Asuncion 
and Villa Encarnacion. Its area is twelve square miles, and the popula- 
tion in 1898 was reported to be 109 families, composed of 408 persons 
of the following nationalities : 97 French ; 74 Germans ; 56 Italians ; 65 
Paraguayans; 23 Swiss ; 19 Argentines; 20 Spaniards ; 20 English ; 16 
North Americans ; 4 Austrians ; 9 Belgians and 3 Brazilians. The agri- 
cultural products include, in addition to those enumerated above in the 
case of other colonies, also rice and cotton. 

New Australia Colony was founded in 1893 by the Co-operative 
Colonies Company of New Australia, to which the Government gave 64 
square leagues of territory, on condition that 1200 families settled there 
within six years. Many colonists presented themselves, each subscrib- 
ing $300. In this way $150,000 was raised to start the colony, which 
was organized upon a communistic basis. Dissensions subsequently 
arose and 85 persons left, and purchased another tract. In 1894 still 



COLONIES. 17 



another band of 25 departed for Buenos Aires. Those who remained 
reorganized the colony, dropping most of the objectionable features. It 
was decided to liquidate the colony, dividing all assets among its mem- 
bers ; also, that the Government would give each family or adult 120 
acres of land, in order that each one might work independently of the 
other, and a large additional territory to be owned by the entire popula- 
tion for division with the new people when they join the colony; the 
colony to be protected by a board of officers, named by the people for 
internal affairs while all other matters shall come under the colonization 
laws of the country. New Australia Colony is situated in the Depart- 
ment of Ajos, twenty miles distant from General Caballero station, and 
is divided into five villages, which had a combined population of 262 in 
1898, together with 537 cattle, 158 horses, 196 swine, 3 sugar factories, 
a ramie cleaning establishment and other industries. The people culti- 
vate in addition to the articles mentioned in other colonies, potatoes and 
ramie. 

The Colony of the 25th of November is also situated in the depart- 
ment of Ajos, four miles east of New Australia. It was founded in 
1893, and its population of 912 persons is composed exclusively of Para- 
guayans. The usual Paraguayan agricultural products are cultivated, and 
the colonists, according to the report made in 1898, possessed 2,300 
cattle. 250 sheep, 350 horses, 90 swine and 60 goats. 

The William Tell Colony, founded in 1893 by Dr. M. S. Bertoni, 
is situated in the department of Tacurupucu, at the junction of the 
Rivers Monday and Parana. The population is exclusively composed of 
Swiss people, who are engaged entirely in agricultural pursuits, and 
make a specialty of the cultivation of coffee, for which the soil is admir- 
ably adapted. 

Cosme Colony is an offshoot of the New Australia Colony, being 
started by members of that colony who did not agree with the parent 
organization. Under the leadership of William Lane, they organized a 
new colony in 1894. It is situated in the department of Caazapa, be- 
tween the River Pirapo and the stream Capiibary, three leagues from the 
Paraguay Central Railway. The colony in 1898 was reported to have a 
school, warehouses, a. shoe factory, tannery, 2,400 orange trees, 2,000 
Yerba Mate plants, 2,400 coffee plants, 400 grape vines, 830 banana 
plants, and 300 other fruit trees. The usual agricultural products were 
under cultivation. The colonists have built a bridge over the River 
Pirapo. The population on the above-mentioned date was composed 
of 50 men, 18 women and 25 children, all Australians or English. A 
letter from one of the members of this colony, published in the London 
Chronicle says : " The Paraguayan land laws are most liberal, putting to 
shame the legislation of other countries. The Government gave Cosme 



COMMERCE. 



28,000 acres of land; exempted the colony from all direct taxation for 
ten years ; granted complete self-government, appointing colony-nomi- 
nated magistrates; established a postal service at its own expense; paid 
river and railroad fares of Cosme immigrants, and now through the 
State Bank, has supplied Cosme, on favorable terms of payment, with 
valuable machinery for the development of its resources. " 

The Eliza Colony is situated three leagues south of Asuncion on the 
River Paraguay. It was founded by two banks, and subsequently ac- 
quired by M. E. Johannsen. It has an area of about 3,470 acres, and 
a population of about 40 families, composed of 227 persons, as reported 
in the Revista Mensualiox July, 1899. These people are equipped with 
all the necessary tools for agricultural pursuits. Among the products are 
given 1,980 cartloads charcoal. The United States Consul at Asuncion 
informs us that Eliza Colony is a very well to do and flourishing settle- 
ment, and one that is very easy of access. He states that the leading 
business men of the colony are anxious to obtain vessels provided with 
cold storage apparatus in which to transport the finest kind of beef, 
such as beefsteak, to Buenos Aires. In his opinion it would also prove 
a good place for the establishment of a canning factory. 

A statement by Senor Don Jose S. Decoud in the Revista Mensual 
for May, 1899, states that new concessions for proposed colonies have 
been granted as follows : To Dr. Stefano Paterno, certain territory in 
the department of Villa del Rosario ; to Messrs. Luiz and Juan Orione, 
certain lands in the department of San Pedro ; to Messrs. Reverchon 
and Closs, certain lands in Alto Parana; to Messrs. R. W. Dent and 
Prieto, certain lands in Santa Clara in the department of Caazapa ; to 
Mr. Juan Amado, for certain lands in the department of Villa Franca ; 
to Messrs. Cramer, Ortlieb & Co., certain lands near Villa Conception. 

The President, in his last annual message states that the initiative 
has been taken for providing practical instruction in all the colonies of 
the Republic, through the establishment of agricultural schools, as an 
efficient means of co-operation in encouraging production, and investi- 
gations into the products most suited to the different regions. 

Commerce. Owing to lack of direct steamship communication, 
Paraguay is placed in the peculiar position of having its exports largely 
credited to neighboring countries, in the published trade statistics. Up 
to the present time practically all its foreign trade is done through 
Buenos Aires and Montevido, and the destination of its products thus 
disposed of is, therefore, uncertain. For example, there is no mention 
of imports from Paraguay in the commercial statistics of the United 
States, and yet it is estimated that in the matter of bones, horse hair, 
dry and salted hides, dyewoods, skins, etc., imported by our country 



COMMERCE. 



19 



from Argentina and Uruguay, out of a total importation of $14,000,000 
per year, at least a portion should be credited to Paraguay. 

To remedy this anomalous position is one of the aims and objects 
of the Paraguay Development Company, which has applied to the Para- 
guayan Government for a steamship subsidy, and has the written assur- 
ance of one of the largest shipbuilding concerns in the United States 
that the necessary vessels as well as the capital to establish the line will 
be forthcoming as soon as the subsidy is granted. There can be no 
doubt that with direct steamship communication, trade between the 
United States and Paraguay would become a recognized quantity and 
increase in a manner that would be most gratifying to both countries. 
And not only this, but we have reason to believe, after due investiga- 
tion, that the proposed line would afford an outlet also for the commerce 
of southern Bolivia, which would be brought down the rivers to Asun- 
cion, instead of seeking vainly for an advantageous route to the Pacific. 

The commerce of Paraguay is handled by 2,298 commercial houses, 
which have a combined capital of $8,335,568, according to the Presi- 
dent's last annual message. Of these there are in the city of Asuncion 
1,728 commercial houses, with a capital of $3,334, 191. 

Seiior Carlos R. Santos, in his address before the International 
Commercial Congress, pointed with pride to the fact that, although 
Paraguayan commerce does not have large amounts of capital at its dis- 
position, it has always been guided in its transactions by the strictest of 
observance of honorable conduct, a matter which has been duly appre- 
ciated in its exterior relations. An illustration of the above may be 
found in a letter received by the Paraguay Development Company from 
one of the leading foreign merchants in Asuncion, who assures us that 
the trade with Paraguay of foreign firms which he represents amounted 
in the year 1899 to nearly $1,000,000, and that out of this sum the 
entire losses did not amount to $5,000. We give herewith a table 
showing the imports, exports and total commerce of Paraguay for a 
number of years past. The figures for all the years, except the first 
three and 1899 are from official sources: 



YEAR 


IMPORTS 


EXPORTS 


TOTAL 


1876 


639,055 


333, 2 84 


972,339 


l88l 


1,253,880 


1,874,502 


3.128,382 


1888 


3,289,000 


2,588,000 


5,877,000 


1895 


1,308,662 


1,958,250 


3,266,912 


1896 


2,830,873 


I,888,o6l 


4,718,934 


1897 


2,371,765 


2,l8l,8o9 


4,553,574 


1898 


2,822,438 


2,207,461 


5,029,899 


1899 


2,684,396 


2,526,278 


5,210,674 


I9OO 


2,622,177 


2,672,861 


5,295,038 



2o COMMUNICATION. 



As an illustration of the nature of the leading articles imported into 
Paraguay we may give the following tables for the year 1898 : 

Eatables, etc $ 398,192 59 

Drinks 237,738 38 

Hardware, tinware, etc „ 163,823 66 

Lamps, ironware, etc 2 >433 OI 

China ware, glass, etc I5>°43 05 

Dressed skins and hides . 11,961 40 

Harness 1,348 10 

Footwear, leather, etc. 7,528 65 

Watches and clocks 2,763 72 

Musical instruments 4,4 2 3 45 

Furniture, tapestry, etc IO ,3 I 5 24 

Guns, pistols, ammunition 22,997 04 

Stationery J 3,957 95 

Perfumery and toilet articles 21,479 95 

Mercery 67,019 08 

Textiles, cotton, etc 709,012 74 

Apparel 24,989 25 

Hats, etc 44>40i 50 

Drugs and Medicines — 

General I3>9 I:[ 31 

Special 4,633 65 

Surgical instruments, etc IO >355 09 

Other unenumerated articles 394,340 47 

Total 12,218,748 28 

Entered free of duty by law 5°°>339 7° 

Entered free by special concessions 103,351 00 



Total $2,822,438 98 

Most of the manufactured articles enumerated above are received 
from England and Germany. The exports of Paraguay also most largely 
go to those two countries, although oranges, bananas, pineapples, toma- 
toes, melons and other fruits and vegetables are exported to Argentina 
and Uruguay, where they have the advantage of coming into the market 
about two months earlier than similar local products. 

The leading articles of export from Paraguay are hides, yerba mate, 
tobacco, hardwoods and dyewoods. All of these, together with fibres, 
manganese, palm oil, castor oil and a great variety of medicinal plants 
should find a ready market in the United States. 

Communication. Paraguay possesses the Parana and Paraguay 
Rivers, two first-class fluvial ways of communication, which places its 
people in relation not only with Brazil, Argentine and Uruguay, but 
also with the Atlantic Ocean and the rest of the world. These two 
rivers are enlarged by several tributaries, and in their turn contribute, 
together with the River Uruguay, to form the River Plate, one of the 
greatest estuaries in the world. 



CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE. 



Constitutional Guarantees. The Constitution of Paraguay 
guarantees to all inhabitants of the Republic, native and foreign, the 
following rights: 

To navigate the rivers, to follow peacefully their professions and 
trades, to assemble peacefully, to petition the authorities, to enter, 
remain or quit the Paraguayan territory free and without passport, to 
publish their ideas in the press without censorship, to use and dispose of 
their property and associate themselves together for useful and lawful 
ends, to profess freely their belief, to teach and to learn. 

Property is held inviolate and no inhabitant of the Republic can 
be deprived of it without due course of law. The State may exercise 
the right of eminent domain but must previously indemnify the owner. 

Only Congress can impose taxes, and without special authority the 
exercise of this power is prohibited to any other authority or person. 

Every author and inventor is the exclusive owner of his own works 
and inventions or discoveries, during such time as may be granted him 
by law. 

No personal service can be demanded of any person unless by 
virtue of law or sentence duly found. 

The confiscation of goods is forever prohibited: So is the penalty 
of death for political offenses. 

No armed body may make demands or requisitions upon any 
person nor demand aid of any nature without compensation. 

The right to be judged by a jury in criminal cases shall be assured 
to all and shall forever remain inviolate. 

No person shall be obliged to testify against himself nor be liable 
to arrest without warrant issued by competent authority, nor detained 
more than 24 hours without informing him of the nature of his offense. 

All accused persons are presumed to be innocent until declared 
guilty, or suspected of guilt, by a competent judge. 

Domiciliary rights are inviolable as are also private correspondence 
and papers, and the law only shall determine in what cases and under 
what circumstances their discovery may be had. 

All kinds of torture and corporal beating are abolished. Prisons 
should be wholesome and clean, and not for the mortification of 
prisoners detained therein. 

Excessive bail shall not be required nor excessive fines imposed. 

Private acts of men, which in no manner offend the public order or 
public morals, nor injure a third person are judged by God alone, and 
are exempt from the authority of magistrates. No inhabitant of the 
Republic shall be obliged to do that which is not commanded by law, 
nor shall be deprived of that which it does not prohibit. 



22 COPPER. 



The liberty of the press is inviolable, and no law shall be passed 
infringing in any manner upon this right. 

Actions involving the violations of law by the press are only triable 
by jury, and in causes and demands in which are involved the publi- 
cation of censure of public servants, proof of the alleged facts shall be 
admitted. 

In the Republic of Paraguay there are no slaves. Slaves which in 
any manner may be introduced, shall become free by the mere act of 
entering upon Paraguayan territory. 

The Paraguayan Nation does not admit prerogatives of blood nor 
birth. There are no privileged persons, nor titles of nobility. All its 
inhabitants are equal before the law, and are qualified for any position 
without other condition than fitness. Equality is the basis of taxes, 
imposts and public charges. 

The electoral right of the citizen is inviolable, and the President 
and his Ministers are prohibited from interfering directly or indirectly 
in popular elections. 

Whatever authority, whether of the city or country, which of its 
own motion or obeying orders of superiors, exercises coersion directly or 
indirectly against one or more citizens, commits an assault upon the 
right of suffrage, and is responsible personally before the law. 

All citizens of Paraguay are obliged to arm themselves in defense 
of their country and constitution. Naturalized citizens are equally 
obliged to perform this service after three years from date of their 
naturalization. 

No law can have a retroactive effect. 

Foreigners enjoy in the whole territory of the nation all the civil 
rights of citizens. They can exercise their industries, commerce and 
professions, possess property, sell and dispose of the same, navigate the 
rivers, profess freely their belief, dispose of their property by last will or 
testament, and marry in conformity to the law. They shall not be 
obliged to become citizens nor forced to pay extraordinary contri- 
butions. 

The declarations, rights and guaranties enumerated in this funda- 
mental law shall not be understood as denying others not enumerated, 
but which are born of the principle of sovereignty of the people and of 
representative republican form of government. 

Copper is among the minerals which are to be found in Paraguay, 
although very little prospecting has been done so far. Sefior Carlos R. 
Santos, during his attendance at the International Commercial Congress, 
in Philadelphia, as delegate from the Government of Paraguay, brought 
with him some samples, which were submitted to Dr. Barringer, the well- 



COSME COLONY. 23 



known expert, who pronounced the ore very rich, and declared that if it 
was found in sufficient quantities no better investment could be desired. 

Cosme Colony. (See, "Colonies.") 

Cotton is indigenous to the soil of Paraguay, and can be raised of 
the longest staple, without difficulty. There is no reason why, with 
proper encouragement, the cotton industry should not be a large and 
most valuable one. TJiere are several kinds of cotton which are grown 
in Paraguay. The best known are the white cotton which has a long 
and strong fibre, and the yellowish cotton which is more glossy in ap- 
pearance and of the same quality as the former. Cotton seed, intro- 
duced from the United States has produced good plants. Senor Santos, 
in his speech before the International Commercial Congress, stated that 
white and yellowish cotton yield on a average seven pounds per plant. 
The soil yields three or four crops of cotton per annum, which is a great 
advantage in itself. The President's annual message gives the number 
of cotton plants cultivated during 1900 as 328,053. While the cost of 
transportation from Asuncion militates against the export of raw cotton, 
with the establishment of cotton mills as proposed by the Paraguay De- 
velopment Company, there would be an incentive for growing cotton 
and supplying the home market with cotton textiles, which are now almost 
exclusively imported from England. In 1898 such goods were imported 
to the value of $186,325.02, and as the entire population wears cotton 
garments exclusively the demand is constantly growing. 

Crime. " Crime is comparatively rare in Paraguay/' says the En- 
cyclopaedia Britannica, and many other high authorities and travelers 
who have been in Paraguay bear the same testimony. The generally 
peaceful character of the people and their hospitality and generosity to- 
wards strangers is also remarked, and their courage and bravery, as ex- 
emplified by the great war of 1865-18 70, shows that a peaceful people 
need not necessarily be destitute of valor. 

Custom Houses. While Asuncion is the great port of entry of 
Paraguay, custom houses have been established also at Villa Conception, 
Villa del Pilar, Humaita, Villa Encarnacion and San Jose-mi. 

Day, Length, of. During the longest day in Paraguay the sun 
shines 13 hours and 34 minutes. The shortest day lasts 11 hours and 
26 minutes. 

Death. Kate. An indication of the salubrity of the Paraguayan 
climate may be found in the low annual death rate, which is twenty-three 
per thousand. 

Debt. (See, < < Public Debt. ' ' ) 



24 DISEASES, ABSENCE OF. 

Diseases, Absence of. The absence of the principal zymotic 
diseases — yellow fever, typhus and typhoid, cholera and dysentery, which 
are so frequently met with in other South American countries — is one of 
the greatest recommendations for the climate of Paraguay. Vaccination is 
made compulsory by law, and smallpox is almost entirely unknown. One 
or two cases of bubonic plague among Portuguese sailors arriving in the 
harbor of Asuncion in 1900, gave rise to entirely unwarranted rumors. 
The disease gained no foothold being most energetically and success- 
fully coped with by the National Board of Health. 

Distances. At the request of the Paraguay Development Com- 
pany, Commander C. C. Todd, Hydrographer of the United States 
Navy, gives the following statement of distances : " From Philadelphia to 
Asuncion, via Buenos Aires (direct route) 6,745 nautical miles; from 
Philadelphia to Buenos Aires (direct route) 5,918 nautical miles; from 
Philadelphia to Buenos Aires, steamer route, via Pernambuco, Bahia, 
Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo, 6,065 nautical miles. " 

Dyestuffs. Besides Quebracho wood of excellent quality there are 
many other dyewoods and plants, from which dyes can be extracted, in 
the Paraguayan forests. It is stated on scientific authority that there are 
at least fifteen plants there which are known to furnish dyes. Indigo 
and other coloring agents could be supplied in large quantities. Among 
the rich dyes are the iriburetuia, or "vulture's leg," which gives a blue 
metallic tint, and the acuagay root, a bright scarlet. Former Consul 
Hill names red, yellow, violet and blue as among the dyewoods which are 
found in large numbers. Carpenter calls attention to the color of the 
Quebracho Colorado, which is as red as the dark moss rose. 

Education, (See, ' i Public Instruction/ ' ) 

Electric Lighting-, Traction and Power. On August 30, 1900, 
the Government of Paraguay granted the Paraguay Development Com- 
pany a concession to supply electric lighting, traction and power in the 
city of Asuncion and suburbs for a period of twenty-five years. In 
accordance with the terms of the concession, a contract was executed on 
September 5, 1900. The lighting and traction plants are to be installed 
eighteen months and two years, respectively, from January 15, 1901. 
The engineers of the Paraguay Development Company, now on their 
way to the capital, will determine the most economical and desirable 
manner of generating the electricity and installing the respective plants. 
At present Asuncion, like other Paraguayan cities, is still lighted by 
petroleum, and the present street car service consists of horse cars in the 
city and steam tram cars to the suburbs. The passengers on the top of 
these tram cars do not enjoy very much the smoke and cinders which 
come out of the locomotive's smoke stack. 



ELEVATION. 25 



Elevation. (See, " Topography. ' ' ) 

Eliza Colony. ( See, < < Colonies. ' ' ) 

Kng-ineering 1 , Government. Paraguay has an efficient national 
department of engineering. Among the important works which it has 
in hand at present is the survey of certain towns and colonies, and the 
making of maps of the same; the survey of the lands of the Paraguay 
Central Railroad from Asuncion to Villa Rica; plans for works intended 
to benefit the public health, etc. For the latter, the services of Senor 
Paquet, a well-known civil engineer were especially secured. 

Fibres. The fibres of Paraguay would prove an interesting study 
in themselves. Eight useful plants of this nature are enumerated. 
When the fibres of Paraguay are better known, and proper efforts are 
made to bring them to market, a large industry will be opened up. 

Flour Mills. The idea of establishing the milling industry in 
Paraguay upon a larger scale, under favorable conditions, has been taken 
up among other projects by the Paraguay Development Company, and 
its representatives, who are on the way to Paraguay, will study the entire 
subject personally. It is understood that there are several flour mills 
already established, but if the wheat can be grown or imported under 
favorable conditions, and the demand for wheat flour is such as to war- 
rant the increase of milling facilities, the matter will receive due atten- 
tion. 

Foreigners. There were 4,541 foreigners in Asuncion, according 
to the census taken in October, 1900, and at the same time the entire 
foreign population of Paraguay amounted to 18,183 persons. Most of 
the foreign population is centered in the various colonies which have 
been established through the liberal provisions for immigrants made by 
the Paraguayan Government. The nationalties most largely represented 
are the Italians, Portuguese, Argentines, Spaniards, Germans, English, 
Austrians and French. They are all, as a rule, law-abiding, industrious 
and desirable settlers, whose united efforts will do much toward develop- 
ing the agricultural and other resources of the land of their adoption. 

Frost. In the five years from 1877 to 1881 only fifty frosts were 
observed in' Paraguay, and of these seventeen fell in August. Mr. 
Henry Mangels, German Consul at Asuncion, also states that on an 
average there are ten frosts per year, and ice sometimes forms in the 
country, although this is rare. In June, 1888, for example, the ther- 
mometer registered 36.9 degrees Fahrenheit at Asuncion. 

Fruits. Fruit trees of many kinds flourish luxuriantly in Para- 
guay, the soil, climate and rainfall being admirably adapted for their 



26 GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. 

propagation. The cocoa palm often forms regular groves, and the 
orange tree (reaching a height of fifty feet) is so common, and bears so 
prolificacy, that oranges, like bananas, have a mere nominal value. 
The quince, plum, pear, peach, cactus fig, pomegranate, and other 
well-known fruits all grow in the red soil, and there are also excellent 
native fruits known only by their Guarani, or Indian names. Water- 
melons and canteloupes grow everywhere. The grape is also indigenous 
to Paraguay, and was largely cultivated in the time of the Jesuits. It is 
possible to grow three crops per annum. 

Geographical Position. (See, ' ' Boundaries. ' ' ) 

Gold. (See, " Minerals. ' ' ) 

Government. Paraguay is a constitutional democratic-represen- 
tative republic. By its constitution, proclaimed on the 25th of Novem- 
ber, 1870, Paraguay has a form of government closely resembling that 
of the United States. There are three high powers of State — the execu- 
tive, the legislative and the judicial. The executive power is vested in 
the President, who is assisted by a Cabinet"" of five, members. The 
President and Vice-President are elected for a term of four years, and 
are afterwards ineligible for a second term until an interval of four years 
has elapsed. The legislative power is vested in Congress, which con- 
sists of a Senate and House of Deputies. . Members of the Senate are 
elected for six years, one for every 12,000 inhabitants, and members of 
the House for four years, one for each 6,000 inhabitants, all directly by 
the people. The judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court, with 
three judges and courts of lower jurisdiction. For the purpose of in- 
ternal administration, the country is divided into departments and dis- 
tricts which are under chiefs, appointed by the President, and have 
civil justices and boards of commissioners. By this arrangement the 
national administration is able to interest itself closely in all matters of 
local concern. The Government of Paraguay is characterized by its 
stability, its honesty of administration, its care for the interests of the 
people, and its friendly relations with foreign powers and countries, 
whose enterprise and capital it freely invites to its shores upon the most 
liberal terms, and with guarantees of fair and honest treatment, equal to 
that accorded its most favored citizens. While other South American 
countries are frequently disturbed by internal revolutions, no danger 
whatever need be apprehended from this source in Paraguay. For this, 
among many other good reasons, it must be considered one of the best 
countries in the world in which to invest capital and execute enterprises. 
(See, " Constitutional Guarantees. " ) 

Grapes. (See, "Fruits.") 



GUARANIS. 27 



Guaranis. The Spaniards upon their first arrival in Paraguay 
found the country in the possession of the Guarani Indian tribe, an 
intelligent and industrious people readily amenable to European 
civilization, and in fact possessed of a certain degree of civilization them- 
selves. They long successfully resisted the Spanish armies. Their 
admirable qualities are to-day apparent in the strong, healthy and pro- 
gressive race which inhabits Paraguay, and which is largely the result 
of a mingling of Spanish, Portuguese and Indian blood. 

Guayra Falls. The Parana River, which forms a large portion of 
the eastern boundary of Paraguay, has four hundred miles of rocky rapids 
and falls. The most important is the Salto Guayra, one-half of which 
belongs to Paraguay and the other half to Brazil. Captain Sandalio 
Sosa, of the Argentine army, who with Dr. De Bourgade, of Paris, 
France, explored the upper Parana, returning in 1888, spoke thus of 
the celebrated cataract: "The Guayra Fall is not a single perpen- 
dicular fall of water; it is a tumultuous collection of rapids and great 
and little falls, all plunging together into a single channel, through 
which are forced 15,000 to 20,000 cubic meters of water. The height 
of the precipice is 100 meters. " 

Harbor Works. The preliminary report of the engineers upon 
the proposed improvement of the port of Asuncion, as shown by a copy 
placed in the hands of the Paraguay Development Company by the 
Government of Paraguay, provides for extensive dredging, exca- 
vating and masonry or concrete work, the object of which is to bring 
the entire Paraguay back into its old channel near the wharves, part of 
the river having sought a new channel, and this deviation is to be 
corrected. The work, it is estimated, can be completed in six or seven 
years at an annual expenditure of $250,000, or about $1,500,000 in all. 
Preliminary negotiations have already been in progress between the 
Company and a large American contracting firm, which has undertaken 
other similar works in Cuba. 

Health. Paraguay being an unusually healthy country, there 
would seem to be but little to do for a national board of health, and 
this would be the case were it not for the fact that dangers from without 
appear from time to time, and must be guarded against. The ports of 
the country, and especially Asuncion, are points where ceaseless 
vigilance is necessary. That the National Board of Health is fully 
able to cope with all diseases which may threaten the health of the 
capital and country at large is apparent from the high praise bestowed 
upon it in the President's last annual message. The Board has at its 
service a bacteriological laboratory in Asuncion, and the latest and 



28 HIDES. 

most improved apparatus for disinfection in suspicious cases of diseases. 
The Bacteriological Institute is under the direction of Dr. Miguel 
Elmassian, from the celebrated Pasteur Institute of Paris. There is 
also a National Bureau of Vaccination, which prepared 40,000 points 
of vaccine virus, one-half of which was utilized in the capital, and the 
other half in the country, and 80,000 adults and 20,000 children were 
vaccinated with excellent results. 

The President, in his message, also states that a treaty has been 
effected through the National Board of Health and similar Boards of 
Argentina and Uruguay, for the purpose of avoiding all sanitary diffi- 
culties between Paraguay and the neighboring countries, and the 
inconvenience occasioned to navigation and commerce during threat- 
ened epidemics from abroad, and quarantine regulations are made 
necessary. 

Hides. The export of hides is already a considerable item in the 
foreign commerce of Paraguay, and with the development of the cattle 
industry this valuable trade will largely increase. 

History, Paraguay was discovered in 1530, by Sebastian Cabot. 
The first Spanish Colony was established under the direction of Pedro 
de Mendoza. His lieutenant, Juan de Ayolas, founded what is now the 
capital of Paraguay, Asuncion, on August 15, 1536, after defeating the 
Guarani Indians, several thousand of whom, under their chief Lambare, 
submitted to the intrepid invaders and helped them to build the first 
fort. Captain Martinez de Irala remained in charge and organized the 
settlement, establishing a municipal council, a church and erecting 
additional fortifications. 

The country, called Paraguay at first, comprised the entire basin 
of the River Plate, and up to 1620 was subject to the viceroyalty of 
Peru. In that year two separate governments, Paraguay and Buenos 
Aires, were established by royal decree, and these were administered, 
like their predecessor by intendants under the Peruvian jurisdiction. 

In 1776 the two provinces were re-united under the separate 
viceroyalty of Buenos Aires, and the capital established in the city of 
that name. In 1809, after the defeat of Spain by France, a provisional 
government was formed at Buenos Aires, which still acknowledged the 
sovereignty of the Mother Country, but in 181 1 the Paraguayans took 
steps to secure their own independence, which they achieved by 
defeating the army under General Belgrano, who had been sent from 
Buenos Aires to coerce them into submission. For a time the country 
was governed by a junta composed of Generals Pedro Juan Caballero, 
Fulgencio Yegros and Dr. Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia. In 18 13 
this was changed and Yegros and Francia continued in authority as 



HISTORY. 29 



Consuls. In 18 14 Francia was made Dictator for three years, and after- 
wards for life. During his absolute rule, which lasted until his death, in 
1840, foreigners were denied entrance or exit from the country. Many 
reforms were introduced by Francia, however, schools were established, 
and a code of laws devised. After a brief government by another 
junta , presided over by Dr. C. L. Ortiz and General Juan Jose 
Medina, the consular system was re-established in 1841, and Don 
Carlos Antonio Lopez 'and Don Mariano Roque Alonso were named 
Consuls. In 1844 Lopez was named Dictator for ten years; at the 
expiration of that term he was re-elected for three years; and again in 
1857 for seven years. During his government a more liberal policy 
toward foreigners was pursued; Paraguay's independence was formally 
acknowledged, and, by a convention with Brazil , the waters of the 
Paraguay River were declared to be opened to the merchant marine of 
all friendly nations. 

Upon his death in 1862, Lopez was succeeded by his son, Francisco 
Solano, commonly known as Marshal Lopez, who conducted the govern- 
ment much after the manner of Francia. In 1864 he became involved 
in a dispute with Brazil, and this led to one of the most bloody wars in 
history. On the one side were Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay ; on the 
other, Paraguay, heroically determined to shed its last drop of blood for 
what it considered its rights, and in defence of its existence as a nation. 
The war lasted from 1865 until 1870, being terminated by the death of 
Lopez, who fell in battle, sword in hand and with his face to the foe. 

A provisional treaty of peace, drawn at Asuncion June 20, 1870, 
declared the rivers Paraguay and Parana reopened, and a new constitu- 
tion was promulgated on November 25 th, which provided, among other 
things, for the summary punishment of such persons as should in future 
attempt to assume the dictatorship. 

Twenty-one notable citizens united under the auspices of the allied 
powers and elected a Triumvirate, composed of Cirilo Antonio Riverola, 
Carlos Loizaga and Jose Diaz Bedoya, who remained in provisional 
charge of the administration of the country's affairs. They concluded a 
treaty of peace with the allies, and called a constitutional assembly of 
sixty representatives, which met on August 15, 1870, for the purpose of 
drawing up a new constitution. This was adopted and promulgated on 
the 24th day of November, 1870. 

Senor Riverola was elected the first provisional President. He was 
succeeded by Salvador Jovellanos, after a very brief administration, on 
December 18, 1871. In November, 1874, Juan B. Gille was made 
President; he died April 12, 1877, and Vice-President Higinio Uriate 
completed the unexpired term. On November 25, 1878, Candido 
Bareiro was elected, but he also died in 1880, and the Vice-President, 



3o HOSPITALITY. 



Senor Saguier, refusing the advancement which was open to him, Gene- 
ral B. Caballero, one of the most valiant defenders of the country during 
the war was made provisional President, and formally elected for the full 
term on November 25, 1882. His administration proved very popular, 
and he was succeeded on November 25, 1886, by General Patricio 
Escobar, during whose administration important public works were exe- 
cuted. His successor, Juan G. Gonzalez, who had been Minister 
Resident of the Republic in Europe, was elected November 25, 1890. 
Four years later the election resulted in favor of General Eguisquiza, who 
was in turn succeeded by Dr. Emilio Aceval, on November 25, 1898. 

For over thirty years Paraguay has now been recuperating, and un- 
der constitutional Republican government, in fact as well as name. The 
progress made has been remarkable. Large tracts of government lands 
have been thrown open for development ; colonization has been carried on 
to a considerable extent ; education has been promoted among the peo- 
ple ; various industries established, and agriculture increased and encour- 
aged. Thus, " for the first time in its history/ ' says Almont Barnes, 
L. L. B. , in a report made to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, " Para- 
guay appears in reality to have entered upon, and to have made commend- 
able progress in, a course beneficial to its entire civilized population, 
and which makes its development and intercourse harmonious with the 
advance of the neighboring nations." 

Hospitality. Frank G. Carpenter, in his recent book on South 
America, voicing the sentiments of many other travelers, says that the 
Paraguayans are a hospitable people. One can call at any house, be it 
ever so humble, and he will be made perfectly at home. 

Huniaita, situated 198 miles below Asuncion, is the site of the 
great earth works and fortifications, by means of which Lopez stopped the 
advance of the allied armies for more than a year. (See " War.") 

lee. The United States Consul at Asuncion informs us that ice is 
largely used in Asuncion, and that three large ice factories are in opera- 
tion there, having been established within the past few years. 

tgatimi. (See, ' ' Villa Igatimi. ' ' ) 

Immigration, although as yet small, has made a very good begin- 
ning since 1 881, under the auspices of liberal laws and facilities accorded 
by the Government of Paraguay to all foreigners who settle in the coun- 
try. Among the advantages offered to immigrants are free transportation 
from the ports of Buenos Aires or Montevideo ; entry, free of duty, of 
individual baggage, furniture, tools, seeds, and one gun per immigrant ; 
lodging and board for five days at the expense of the Government at the 



INDIANS. 31 



Immigration Hotel ; free passage from Asuncion to place of destination, 
if on railway or river; a grant of sixteen squares of land (equal to about 
thirty acres) to each immigrant at the nominal price of eight cents per 
acre. (If the immigrant is a single man, he receives but half this quan- 
rity of land.) 

Each new settler is also furnished, upon favorable terms, with some 
agricultural implements, a milch cow, oxen and seeds. 

The number of immigrants in 1886 was reported at about 100; in 
1887, tne number was 563; in 1888, 1,064; in 1889, 1,495; i n 1890, 
1,419. (See, also, "Colonies.") 

Indians. The aboriginal inhabitants of Paraguay chiefly belonged 
to three races, namely, the Guaranis, the Payaguas and the Agaces. 
The Guaranis especially form a superior race, which has mingled easily 
with the white people and adapted itself to modern civilization. In the 
Chaco, or the western portion of Paraguay, there are several tribes in an 
uncivilized condition, the most notable being the Guanas, the Ubayaes, 
the Tobas, the Guaycurias, the Avipones and the Lenguas. Missionary 
work is being done among some of these tribes, although in the far 
interior the hostility of the tribes found there makes it dangerous for the 
white man to venture there. 

Industries, There were, in 1890, thirty factories in Paraguay, 
making bricks, matches, tiles, furniture, leather, liquor, flour, soap, 
macaroni, beer, artificial ice and lumber. The number has increased 
since then, and the President's message, delivered to Congress, April 1, 
1 90 1, states that there are 1,094 industrial houses in the country, repre- 
senting a capital of $16,931,000. In these figures, agricultural and 
stock raising industries are not included. 

Instituto Paraguayo. (See, i ' Public Instruction. ' ' ) 

Ipacarai is a town situated about 25 miles by rail from Asuncion. 
It was founded in 1887, and has a population of about 2500. It com- 
mands a good trade with the mountain towns. 

Iron. (See, "Minerals.") 

Ita, a town southeast of Asuncion, about thirty miles distant, is 
known for its earthenware. 

Itagua is known for its beautiful Nanduty, or Paraguayan lace. 

Jaguaron, situated two and a half leagues from Paraguari, was 
founded in 1536, and is the seat of the manufacture of orange flower 
essence, according to the " Encyclopaedia Britannica. ' 7 



32 JUSTICE. 

Justice. The Judiciary of Paraguay consists of a Supreme Court 
of three members, two Courts of Appeal, respectively for civil, criminal 
and commercial cases. There are four judges for civil and two for criminal 
cases. Dr. E. M. Flagg, formerly United States Vice-Consul, and for 
sixteen years a resident of Asuncion, says in a recently published inter- 
view in Philadelphia : "The Judiciary is incorruptible, and it is one of 
the glories of South America, frequently referred to by the sister Repub- 
lics, that the Courts of Paraguay have always maintained thjeir full dignity 
and independence. ' ' 

The President of Paraguay, in his last annual message, alludes with 
satisfaction to the fact that the administration of justice is performed 
with zeal and assiduity, worthy of great praise. During the year 1900 
there has been entered in the Supreme Court and the Courts of First 
Instance for the Capital, 15 14 definite judgments, 2013 interlocutory 
orders, 19 decrees, 585 demonstrative resolutions, and 33,180 provis- 
ional dispositions. There had also been issued 51 final decrees and 
5,341 official communications. In the Orphans' Court, 752 opinions 
had been rendered, and 220 judicial proceedings were reported by the 
counsellor for the poor and absent. 

luabor. As Paraguay is on a paper currency basis, and one dollar 
of gold is equal to eight dollars of said currency, it can readily be seen 
that there is a large difference in the wages paid there and in the United 
States. Ordinary laborers receive from 1 2 to 20 cents and board per day. 
Skilled labor receives from 25 to 50 cents. The Gauchos, or native cow- 
boys, receive about $3.00 per month; capatazes or overseers, $8.00 to 
$12.00 per month, and a native chief overseer is considered highly 
paid at $50 00 per month. 

L*ace. One of the chief industries of the Parayguayan women is 
lace making. They spin as delicately as spiders and every house is full 
of beautiful handiwork made by its women, such as lace handkerchiefs, 
fichus and embroideries. The lace is called nanduti, which means work 
of spiders, or spider-web. It is soft and lustrous and almost in- 
destructible. The patterns are of native origin, and some of them are 
exceedingly beautiful, so that Paraguayan laces attract the greatest atten- 
tion wherever seen. Here is another industry which might be greatly 
developed. Up to the present time there are no lace factories in Paraguay, 
although in the town of Itagua (about 30 miles from Asuncion) lace 
making is the exclusive occupation of the female population. Children 
are taught in the schools how to make nanduti. Although the making 
of the lace is a long and tedious process, requiring great patience, labor 
is so cheap that an article upon which a month or so. has been spent can 
be bought for as low as five dollars. 



LAKES. 33 

Lakes. Although the lakes of Paraguay are not very large, there 
are among them many beautiful bodies of water. This is especially true 
of Lake Ipacarai about which the natives are fond of telling many curious 
legends, and upon the shores of which the colony of San Bernardino is 
located. It is not far from Asuncion and accessible from the railway 
station of Aregua and Patino-cue. Lake Ipoa is the largest body of 
water so far known, its area containing ioo square miles. 

Land. All lands in Paraguay are sold by the square league, con- 
taining 20,000 acres, or about 1,000 acres less than the square league of 
Argentina. Land sells from one hundred dollars to as high as seven 
hundred dollars per league. At the first-named figures, the cost would 
be only y 2 cent per acre, but of course only the poorest kind of land 
could be obtained at that price. Good grazing lands readily bring in 
the neighborhood of the last-named figures. It is estimated that a league 
of pasture should feed 1, 500 grown cattle. The public lands of Paraguay 
were valued at $94,186,800 in 1872, at the time the foreign loan was 
being negotiated in London. 

Language. The official language of Paraguay is Spanish and is 
spoken throughout the Republic, although in the country districts 
Guarani is also employed ; in fact, every native Paraguayan is familiar 
with this ancient Indian tongue, and foreigners also soon get familiar 
with it. 

Lemons grow in great abundance in Paraguay and two crops per 
annum are obtained. (See, also, "Fruits.") 

Literature Concerning Paraguay. Many interesting volumes 
have been written about Paraguay by explorers and travelers during the 
last three hundred years. Among the more recent books may be men- 
tioned "Mansfield's Paraguay," London, 1856; Burton's "Letters 
from the Battlefields of Paraguay," London, 1870; Washburn's "His- 
tory of Paraguay" (written by the United States Minister who was in 
Asuncion during the war), Boston, 1871 ; MulhalPs "Handbook of 
the River Plate Republics," 1875; an( * Masterman's "Seven Eventful 
Years in Paraguay." 

Luque. Luque lis about nine miles distant from Asuncion, 
and has at present a population of about 3,000. Jt was made provisional 
capital of Paraguay, in 1868, during the war with Brazil, Argentina and 
Uruguay. (See, "War.") 

Maize* Indian corn or maize grows abundantly in Paraguay, 
and frequently yields 150 fold. It is, after mandioca, the chief food of 
the people. Two crops are harvested per annum. According to the 



34 MANDIOCA. 



President's last annual message, there were under cultivation in the year 
1900, 127,434 acres. 

Mandioca, or cassava, is a product of the soil peculiar to tropical or 
semi-tropical regions. It is something like the sweet potato, except that it 
is not as sweet, but is more starchy. It is grown and universally consumed 
in Paraguay, being usually cooked with meat, corn, sweet potatoes and 
other vegetables. This constitutes the national dish. Mandioca is very 
palatable also roasted or fried, the same as potatoes. Tapioca, and a very 
pure starch is obtained from it, and out of the starch a very fine bread is 
made in Paraguay, known as "Chipa." Mandioca is best planted in 
November, and by February is ripe and ready for market. A good 
running crop is obtained for five months, and, in fact, it can be obtained 
almost the year round. For five cents enough mandioca can be bought 
to furnish the substantial part of a meal for a family of five or six. 
According to the President's last annual message, there were under cul- 
tivation in Paraguay in the year 1900, 101,889 acres of mandioca. 

Although starch is extracted in a primitive way from mandioca in 
Paraguay, the exports reported in 1876 amounted to 277,900 pounds. 
In 1879, 594> 000 pounds of tapioca were mentioned among the exports. 
Inasmuch as the United States imports every year about 12,000,000 
pounds of this material, and the demand for the finest kind of starch, 
such as is made from mandioca, is practically unlimited, it can readily 
be seen that a very large market is ready for any products of this kind 
which can be imported into the United States with good advantage. 
The Paraguay Development Company has among its projects the estab- 
lishment of a large modern cassava starch factory in Paraguay, and with 
the representatives which it is sending to that country to investigate the 
entire matter is one of the leading chemical engineers in the United 
States, whose specialty is the erection and equipment of starch and sugar 
factories. 

Manganese. (See, "Minerals.") 

Melons. Many delicious melons are grown in Paraguay; and they 
generally yield two crops per annum. (See, also, " Fruits.") 

Military Service. (See, ' l Army and Navy. ' ' ) 

Minerals. The "Statesman's Year Book" says : " Paraguay con- 
tains valuable minerals which are as yet unworked. Iron abounds in the 
South and marble in the North. Pyrites, copper and kaolin are also 
found.' ' Dr. E. de Bourgade LaDardye, a French traveler, gives about . 
the same information, saying : ( ' Paraguay, the northern part of which 
is covered with limestone, while the South belongs to the sandstone for- 



MISSIONS. 35 



mation, forms one huge mass of iron, stone and manganese. Iron 
abounds everywhere. Mines were opened and worked in the time of 
Lopez. Pyrites are found in abundance. I have myself found con- 
siderable veins of copper. Kaolin reveals itself in many districts, and I 
feel certain that the sandstone will prove to be bedded with coal." The 
"Anuario Estatistico ' ' of Paraguay for 1888, an official publication, says 
that "Iron, copper, manganese, coal, marble and building stone of 
the best quality are found in Paraguay." J. N. Ruffin, U. S. Consul at 
Asuncion, in a report made August 1, 1899, also speaks very highly of 
the mineral resources of Paraguay. He adds that silicates of aluminum, 
among which is porcelain earth, are found in many Departments at 
Luque, Altos, etc. The kaolin is found near the surface, and is of 
extraordinary purity. Silicates of magnesium, among which may be 
mentioned talc, are found near San Miguel of the Misiones and Paso de 
Santa Maria on the Tebicuary river. Graphite or plumbago is of fre- 
quent occurrence in crystalline form. The district of Caapucu contains 
enormous quantities of Elba iron and red iron ore, and near San Miguel 
of the Misiones is found magnetic iron. Both of these ores were used 
by Lopez during the war in making war implements. Hydrated per- 
oxide of iron and brown iron ochre occurs in all parts of the country. 
Porphyry occurs in the whole zone of the plutonic formation, in the dis- 
tricts of Caapucu, Quyindy, and Quiquio. Basalt is principally found 
near Villa Encarnacion. 

Missions. The first Christian missions in Paraguay were estab- 
lished by the Franciscans, between 1542 and 1560. Following these 
came the Jesuits, who were expelled in 1767. In recent times, Pro- 
testant missions have also been established, as the laws of Paraguay 
permit the free exercise of all forms of worship, although the State 
religion is Roman Catholic. There are in Asuncion Lutheran and 
Methodist churches, and also two excellent English schools under the 
direction of the latter denomination. An English missionary station has 
been established in the Chaco, with headquarters across the Paraguay 
river from Concepcion. This mission has been doing a great deal of 
good work among the Indians, and its operations extend into the Chaco 
a distance of a hundred miles or more. 

Money. Paper money is the chief circulating medium in Para- 
guay. Gold is at a premium of about 800 per cent, at present, so that 
one dollar of United States money is worth eight dollars (pesos) in 
Paraguay. This is the ratio observed throughout this volume. The 
principal metallic money of foreign countries also passes current in Par- 
aguay. The amount of paper currency in circulation at the end of the 
year 1899 was $9,885,000 (equal to $1,235,625, United States money). 



36 



NANDUTI. 



The Presidents last annual message states that at the end of the year 
1900, there was an increase in the currency of $1,406,325.45 (equal to 
$175,790). Last year there was also received from the American Bank 
Note Company, of New York, $15,000,000 in printed notes, authorized 
by law, and to be gradually exchanged for the old paper currency in 
circulation. Nickel money has been coined to the value of $200,000, 
in conformity with the law of June 15, 1899. This quantity is insuffi- 
cient to meet the public demand, and more will be coined. 

Nanduti. (See, "Lace.") 

National Library. (See, ' ' Public Library. ' ' ) 

Naturalization. In order to become a citizen of Paraguay, it is 
necessary to make written application to Congress. Among the qualifi- 
cations necessary are a residence of two years in the country, the posses- 
sion of real estate, or the pursuit of some scientific, artistic or indus- 
trial profession. The term of residence required may be reduced at the 
option of Congress. No foreigner is eligible to the Presidency, nor can 
he become a Minister of State or member of Congress. Any other 
office, however, he may hold. 

Navigation. By means of the rivers "Paraguay and Parana, the 
country is in direct communication with the Atlantic Ocean, as they are 
navigable at all times of the year to vessels of large tonnage drawing, 
according to the statement made by Sefior Carlos R. Santos before the 
International Commercial Congress, as much as twelve feet. The Gov- 
ernment reports state that a depth of water, amounting to thirteen feet, 
is found in the river for navigation purposes. 

The arrival and clearances of vessels at Asuncion were as follows, 
in the years named : 



YEAR 


ARRIVALS 


TONNAGE 


DEPARTURES 


TONNAGE 


1889 

1895 
1897 
1898 


933 

374 
367 
418 


36,503 
124,674 
132,592 


930 
326 

408 


33,735 

114,164 









Navy. The navy consisted, in 1883, of a screw steam man-of-war 
of 440 tons, mounting four guns and having a crew of thirty-six sailors, 
commanded by four officers, and of three smaller steamers doing service 
in the ports. 



NEWSPAPERS. 37 



Newspapers are numerous in Paraguay. Asuncion, the capital has 
six dailies, a number which no city of 51,000 in the United States is 
able to boast. These papers are printed in the Spanish language and 
contain all the news, including telegraphic dispatches from various parts 
of Paraguay, as well as cables from Washington, Rome, Paris and other 
leading news centres. The newsboys are met everywhere in the city, 
and sell their wares with as much avidity as in American cities. They 
receive what amounts'to about two cents a copy. 

Oil. Peanut oil, castor oil and oil made from the small Paraguayan 
cocoanuts are among the native products which should find a market in 
the United States. Europe to some extent also imports these oils and 
finds them excellent for soap making and other purposes. Oil distilled 
from the orange leaf is also made at Yaguaron, Valenzuela, and Cara- 
guatay, and exported to Europe. 

Oranges ripen in Paraguay nearly all the year round. One crop 
lasts about five months and the succeeding one five months, so there 
are only two months * in which there is any scarcity. No country on 
earth equals this for the abundance, sweetness, size and flavor of this 
fruit; in fact, Paraguay is justly called the Land of Orange Trees. 
"It is," says Carpenter, "perhaps the only place in the world where 
the orange grows wild. There are oranges almost in every thicket and 
forest; villages are built in orange groves, and the abundance is such 
that millions of oranges annually rot on the ground for want of transpor- 
tation." 

From 1 88 1 to 1890, the number of oranges exported from Para- 
guay to Buenos Aires and Montevideo increased from 23,958,850 to 
65,000,000 per annum. Very little progress has been made as yet in 
making the fruit known outside of the River Plate countries. The 
United States Consul at Asuncion, in 1900, took a box with him to 
France and presented them, in the best of condition to the American 
Ambassador at the French Capital. This, and the experiment of Mr. 
Albert Jones, an American residing in Paraguay, who successfully ship- 
ped a cargo to London, where they brought good prices, would seem to 
prove that with proper packing and care they could be brought to the 
United States and sold in enormous quantities at the season of the year 
when our native oranges are not in the market. Ways and means for 
accomplishing this result are being considered by the Paraguay Develop- 
ment Company. 

The President's last annual message shows that in 1900 there were 
under cultivation 73,012 orange trees. 

Paraguari, one of the noted towns of Paraguay, was founded in 
1775. Its present population is about 10,000. It has a monthly traffic 



PARAGUAY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. 



of 300 ox-carts from the surrounding towns. Among its industries are, 
a tannery, two distilleries, a pottery, quarries, etc. Two large streams, 
with powerful currents are located within nine miles from the town. 
These streams would furnish horse-power for many factories. 

Paraguay Development Company. This Company was incor- 
porated under the laws of New Jersey, July 26, 1900, with an authorized 
capital of $500,000 and has a very broad charter, being authorized 
among other things, to do the following : To open up and develop the 
natural resources of South American countries, and especially of the 
Republic of Paraguay ; to organize and conduct explorations ; to engage 
in the mining of common and precious metals ; to establish, lease or 
operate steamship lines ; to promote immigration ; to obtain and develop 
concessions of every kind ; to execute or provide for the execution of 
public improvements of every description, such as harbor works, docks, 
water works, railways, sewers and electric and other lighting plants ; to 
charge and discharge vessels ; to receive and store merchandise, issue 
warehouse receipts for the same ; to conduct financial negotiations and 
operations for governments or individuals ; to raise, produce, manufacture, 
import, export, buy, sell and otherwise deal in all kinds of edibles, food- 
stuffs, medical specialties, drugs, machinery, etc. ; to raise all kinds of 
cattle and live stock and manipulate, import, export, sell and deal in the 
same ; to purchase, lease, exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any and 
all rights, privileges, permits or franchises, suitable or convenient for any 
purposes of its business. 

It is the purpose of the Company to take up and develop, success- 
ively, either on its own account, or through subsidiary companies, to be 
organized under its supervision and control, the various enterprises and 
projects which it has in view in Paraguay, and for several of which it 
already holds concessions from the Paraguayan Government, which, 
through its President and Ministers of State, has conveyed to the Com- 
pany its assurances of hearty approval and co-operation in all its proposed 
enterprises. It has already obtained the following concessions among 
others : 1. For the exclusive public and private lighting, by means of 
electricity, of the city of Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, for a period 
of twenty-five years, and the exclusive right, during the same time, of 
selling electric power for industrial or other purposes to all users of the 
same in the Capital. For the lighting of the city the National Govern- 
ment guarantees payment each month of the amount agreed upon under 
the contract, free importation of all materials and supplies. Exemp- 
tion from taxation, for a period of twenty-five years, are among the 
privileges granted. 

2. The exclusive right to establish and operate electric street rail- 



PARAGUAY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. 39 

ways in the city of Asuncion and suburbs, for a period of twenty-five 
years. 

3. A concession, which the President in his message of April 1, 
1 90 1, approves and recommends to Congress for a subsidy of $1,800.00 
to $2,000.00 per trip per steamer, for a direct steamship line to be estab- 
lished between the United States and Paraguay. It is expected Congress, 
which is now in session, will approve this project and also the following, 
for which applications have been made. 

4. A concession for the exclusive privilege to build and operate 
cotton weaving and spinning mills for a period of ten to twenty years ; 
free importation during this time of everything needed for the establish- 
ment of such mills, donation of land, exemption from taxation, and 
exemption from import duties on raw material, until such time as suffi- 
cient cotton may be obtained in Paraguay. The Government agrees also, 
to protect the industry by favorable tariff legislation. 

5. A concession for the establishment and operation of water 
works for the city of Asuncion, for a period to be agreed upon. 

6. A concession for a railroad to run from Villa Rosario on the 
Paraguay River to Igatimi, the most fertile region of Paraguay, in which, 
among other things, may be obtained a forty years' supply of beautiful 
hardwoods, and where also are located the yerbales, from which millions 
of pounds of Paraguay tea are annually brought to market. 

7. A concession for harbor works and docks in the port of Asun- 
cion, with Government guarantees for payment of the work as it pro- 
gresses. 

8. A concession for a large slaughtering, packing and refrigerating 
establishment, which can be established under the most favorable con- 
ditions as the cattle of Paraguay can be brought to market much earlier 
and cheaper than in Argentina and Uruguay. 

9. A concession for the establishment of a large cassava starch fac- 
tory, equipped with the very latest improved machinery, and erected 
under the supervision of an expert chemical engineer, who has made the 
manufacture of starch from mandioca a special study 

The Company will also actively promote the extension of commerce 
between Paraguay and the United States, by finding a market in this 
country for the products of the former, such as tobacco, hides, oranges, 
starch, cocoanuts, oils, hardwoods, fibres, laces, and many other articles, 
sending in exchange such manufactured articles, machinery, etc. , as Par- 
aguay is in need of and ready to buy from the United States. The 
officers of the Company are as follows : Tito Aicardi, President ; A. A. 
Rutis, Vice-President : William Mill Butler, Secretary, Treasurer and 
General Manager. 



4o PARAGUAY RIVER. 



Paraguay River. This great stream has a total length of about 
i, 800 miles, and may be termed an affluent of the Parana, just as the 
Missouri is of the Mississippi. It has its rise in a chain of lakes, known 
as the Seven Lagoons, in Brazil, and flows south with a swift undevi- 
ating current, until it reaches Paso de la Patria, where its waters join 
those of the Parana. The average width of the Paraguay is 360 yards 
and its mean depth 20 feet. The current runs 1 mile per hour, or 90 
feet per minute, and has an average fall of 10 inches per mile from its 
source to Asuncion. Carpenter states that steamers drawing as much as 
nine feet of water are at present running on the river, and government 
and other reports state that it is possible for steamers drawing as much 
as twelve to thirteen feet to come from the Atlantic to the National 
Capital. Mr. Nixon, proprietor of the shipyard at Elizabeth, N. J., 
and designer of the famous U. S. battleship " Oregon/ ' some time ago 
assured the Paraguay Development Company that he considered it 
feasible to design a fleet of steamers to carry freight between this 
country and the city of Asuncion on a profitable basis. 

Parana River. This giant stream rises in the mountains of 
Goyaz, Brazil, and has a length of 2,043 miles from its source to the 
River Uruguay. It is divided into four sections, as follows: 1. From 
San Fernandino to Corrientes, 676 miles; average width, 2,400 yards; 
average depth, 90 feet. 2. From Corrientes to Iguazu, 492 miles; 
average width, 1,500 yards; average depth, 70 feet. 3. From Iguazu to 
the Falls of Guayra, 210 miles; average width, 1,200 yards. 4. From 
the Falls of Guayra to Goyaz, 665 miles, average width, 1,500 yards. 
The Parana would be navigable throughout its entire length for vessels 
of the largest size if its upper waters were not closed by the cataracts 
of Urupugunga and Guayra. It is navigable up to Corrientes the year 
round; between Corrientes and Guayra Falls it is navigable for small 
steamers. 

Peaches grow in Paraguay to some extent, but do not thrive as 
well as other fruits. 

Peanuts grow prolifically in Paraguay, and three crops are 
harvested per year. There were under cultivation in 1900, according 
to the President's message, about 15,527 acres. Peanut oil is a staple 
product. 

Pineapples are grown in large quantities and yield two crops per 
annum. In 1900 61,131 plants were under cultivation, according to 
the report of the bureau of agricultural statistics. 

Plate River System, This river system has a volume of water 
greater than that of the Mississippi, and is exceeded only by that of 
the Amazon. It drains a basin half as large as the whole United 



POLITICAL PARTIES. 



4i 



States. Into the River Plate empty the Rivers Uruguay, Parana, 
Paraguay and their tributaries. 

Political Parties, There are two principal political parties in 
Paraguay; the Civico, or Citizens' Party (the "blue,") and the 
Colorado Party (the "red"). The Colorado Party is the party at 
present in power, and it is made up and cemented together largely by 
old war generals, who have united under its banner. There is also 
the Partido Liberal, which is the party standing between the other two. 

Population. The population of Paraguay in 1857 was returned 
at 1,337,439. In 1873, a f ter tne fi ye years' war with Brazil, Argentina 
and Uruguay, the returns showed but 221,079, including 28,746 men 
and 106,256 women, over fifteen years of age, the rest being children. 
While the accuracy of these figures is questioned by some authorities, 
they appear to be somewhere near the truth, as travelers who passed 
through the country at the close of the great conflict, all testify to the 
utter desolation and ruin which appeared everywhere. (See, " War.") 
In 1876, the census gave a population of 293,844. In 1894, it was es- 
timated at 430,000. The census returns for 1899 gave 655,571, includ- 
ing 100,571 Indians. Carpenter, in his book on South America, written 
about this time, stated that Paraguay had then 700,000, but, according 
to the President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs, could easily feed 
7,000,000 and still leave much of the country uncultivated and unused. 

The last annual message of the President of Paraguay, delivered to 
Congress on April 1, 1901, gives the result of the census of the previous 
year, showing that there are 635,571 inhabitants, of whom 18,183 are 
foreigners. This enumeration does not include the Indian tribes, which 
would add over 100,000 more. 

The population of Paraguay is made up of pure whites, who are 
mostly immigrants or descendants of immigrants, settled in the country 
during the last thirty years ; pure Indians, among whom the Guaranis pre- 
dominate (See, " Indians"); a very few negroes, who were introduced into 
the country after the days of Spanish rule; and the offspring of the mixture 
of the various races, among whom the Spanish -Indian is the leading stock. 

Postal Service. Paraguay entered the Universal Postal Union 
July 1, 1884, although its postal service was established much earlier. 
Statistics show an increase since 1880 as follows : 



YEAR 


DOMESTIC LETTERS 


FOREIGN LETTERS 


TOTAL 


l88o 
1886 
I89I 
I9OO 


20,796 

130,740 

470,185 

1,102,173 


46,538 

92,847 

628,938 

627,705 


67,335 
304,617 

I,099^ 2 3 
1,729,878 



42 PRISONS. 



Although, as in other countries, the service is not self-sustaining, 
the increase in the number of letters sent and received, both foreign and 
domestic, is another index of the progress which Paraguay is making. 

Prisons. Very few prisons are necessary in Paraguay. The chief 
one is the penitentiary at Emboscada, which has just been completed, 
and is occupied by prisoners removed to it from the public jail in Asun- 
cion. The new institution possesses modern requirements for security 
and hygiene, including also spacious workshops, which are in charge of 
a competent director. There is also a penal colony, created by the 
law of November 19, 1898. The President's last annual message states 
that : " There have been sent there a number of thieves and vagrants, 
in accordance with the provisions of said law. ' ' 

Products, The climate and soil of Paraguay is such that not only 
the products of tropical countries, but those of semi-tropical and tem- 
perate zones can also be raised in great abundance. Here is a partial 
list of products which grow to the best advantage : Alfalfa, bananas, 
castor beans, cocoanuts, coffee, cotton, grapes, lemons, maize, raan- 
dioca, melons, oranges, peanuts, pineapples, ramie, rice, sugar cane, 
tobacco, tomatoes and yerba mate. The statistical data furnished in 
the annual message of the President, shows that in the year 1900 the 
following were the leading crops under cultivation : 

Maize about 127,434 acres. 



Mandioca 
Beans . . , 
Tobacco . , 
Sugar Cane 
Peanuts . 
Rice . . . , 



101,889 
44,693 
25,804 
16,201 
15,527 
5,373 



Total 336,921 " 

In addition to this, there were reported under cultivation : 

Cotton 328,053 plants. 

Coffee 191,673 " 

Castor Beans 260,830 " 

Oranges 72,012 trees. 

Pineapples 61,131 plants. 

Bananas . 47,697 " 



Total 962,296 

Of Alfalfa, there were about 2,800 acres under cultivation. 

Public Debt. In his annual message delivered to Congress on 
April 1, 1 90 1, President Aceval said : " Beginning with the year 1900, 
there was commenced the amortization of one-half per cent, per annum 



PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 43 

of the afore-mentioned external debt in conformity with the agreement 
authorized by the law of the 16th of November, 1895, it becoming re- 
duced in this manner in 1901 to the sum of $4,946,333.96 gold." 

In addition to this reduction of the foreign indebtedness, which 
bears only four per cent, interest, the President called attention to the fact 
that the internal indebtedness was reduced by $34,270 during the pre- 
vious year and now amounts to but $145,417.50, thus making the total 
home and foreign indebtedness $5,091,751.46. The message also 
states that the government attended punctually to all obligations of the 
State during the year. 

In this statement we do not include the so-called war debt which 
was imposed by Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay as a result of the struggle 
of 1865-1870 (see, "History" and "War"). Uruguay generously 
wiped out the score by formal legislation, on April 20, 1883, acknowledg- 
ing that indemnity should not have been imposed. Brazil has already 
shown that her leading statesmen are likewise minded, and when she 
formally cancels the * obligation, Argentina will not be behindhand in 
doing the same, as it has always been understood that these two great 
countries have held Paraguay to the indemnity up to the present time 
more as a mutual pledge or hostage for peace. Thirty years after the 
war no one will argue that any such pledge is longer necessary. Para- 
guay is intent only on her rehabilitation in the paths of commerce and 
industry, and the advancement and prosperity of her people in the peace- 
ful arts. Nor would any neighboring nation dare without just cause to dis- 
turb her peace or take another inch of her territory. Therefore, it is 
thought that the war debt will be happily wiped out before long in a most 
satisfactory and honorable manner to all concerned, and for this reason we 
do not include the $9,876,466 indemnity of Brazil and the $13,423,423 
indemnity of Argentina in a statement of the public debt. Without 
these sums, the indebtedness of Paraguay is less than $8.00 per capita. 
Compare this with the per capita of the United States or any other 
country. 

The foreign loans of Paraguay were negotiated in London, in 187 1 
and 1872, through Messrs. Robinson, Fleming & Co. 

Public Instruction is free in Paraguay, and is divided into 
primary, secondary and superior grades. The President's last message 
states that in the higher educational institutions 716 matriculated stu- 
dents attended during the term of 1 900-1 as follows : 

National University 89 

National College at the capital 439 

National Colleges in the country , 188 

Total 7 l6 



44 



PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 



Of the 2,313 students inscribed 588 have presented themselves for 
examination. 

The faculty comprising the secondary and superior courses of in- 
struction numbers 66, as follows : 

Instructors of the Faculty of Laws and Social Science 10 

Instructors of the Faculty of Medicine 10 

Professors at the National College in the capital 25 

Professors at National Colleges in the country . . .21 



Total 



66 



Public and private schools are distributed as follows : 





CAPITAL 


COUNTRY 


TOTAL 


Normal Schools 


2 

6 

16 

10 
I 


9 
229 

97 


2 


Graded " 


15 

245 
107 

1 


Primary lt 


Private " 


Agricultural Schools, 


TOTALS, 


35 


335 


37o 



The number of students who receive instructions in these schools 
is shown in the following table : 





CAPITAL 


COUNTRY 


TOTAL 


Normal Schools 


143 
2,204 
1,690 
1,000 

I IO 


1,666 
15,039 

3,395 


H3 

3,870 

16,729 

4,395 
no 


Graded " .... 


Primary u 


Private " 


Agricultural Schools 


TOTALS, 


5,147 


20,100 


25,247 



The force of instruction at these schools is as follows : 





CAPITAL 


COUNTRY 


TOTAL 


Normal Schools 


59 
62 

45 

32 

7 


6 7 
381 

99 


59 
I29 
426 
131 

7 


Graded '* 


Primary " 


Private " 


Agricultural Schools 


TOTALS, 


205 


547 


752 



The entire amount appropriated for public instruction in 1900, 
was $174,500. 

Independent of the schools which have been enumerated, mention 



PUBLIC LANDS. 45 



should also be made of the Institute Paraguayo, which provides courses 
in physical instruction and art for the youth of Paraguay. It has six 
departments, 335 matriculated students and twelve professors. It was 
maintained at a cost of $5,343.30 during the past year. 

Public Lands. In addition to the Chaco, or Indian territory, 
which has an area of about 30,664 square miles, it was estimated in 1870 
that the pulic lands ifi the eastern portion, or Paraguay proper, amounted 
to 74,640 square miles including 42,600 square miles of arable land, 
27,000 of mountain and forest lands and 5,040 square miles of yer- 
bales. This estimate left about 17,360 square miles of private lands in 
the Republic. Much of the public land has since then been disposed 
of. The sales in 1887, for example, were reported to have amounted to 
$1,408,123. 

The Paraguayan land law of 1885 divides the public lands into five 
classes, and provides for their sale at the following prices : 

First-class lands, $1290 per square league (12*4 English square miles). 
Second-class, 800 " " " 

Third-class, 300 " " " 

Fourth-class, 200 " " " 

Fifth-class, 100 " " ■ " 

Of the purchase price twenty-five per cent, must be paid down ; 
the balance in three annual payments • or the entire amount may be 
liquidated at any time, in which case a reduction of twelve per cent, per 
annum is allowed from date of payment. 

Public Library, Asuncion has a public library established in a 
very handsome library building, which was completed in 1899. The 
number of volumes contained therein at that date were reported to be 
5,819, including 3,319 well -bound books. 

Public Works, The Government of Paraguay annually devotes a 
portion of its revenue to the execution of public works. For example, 
there were completed in 1898, wharf improvements at Asuncion, exten- 
sion of wall, addition to custom house, construction of edifice in Villa 
Encarnacion, addition to the National Penitentiary, and other improve- 
ments, amounting in all to $35,579. 

The President in his last message to Congress states that in accord- 
ance with the law creating the commission of public works, attention 
has been given to the following constructions: A church at Villa 
Hayes; barracks and military hospital in the same place; a commissary 
building at Arroyo Seco; addition to the penitentiary at Emboscada; 
repair of police headquarters at Villa del Pilar; repair of the public jail; 
repair of police headquarters at Paraguari; completion of the custom 
house building at Villa Encarnacion, and the construction of a large 



46 QUEBRACHO WOOD. 



warehouse at the custom house in Asuncion. The estimated total cost 
of these improvements, for which contracts were awarded, was 
#322,959- 

Quebracho Wood is one of the most valuable dyewoods, and the 
extract made from it is also largely used for tanning purposes. The 
forests of Paraguay contain an enormous supply of this wood. It is 
claimed that its great hardness makes it more difficult to obtain the ex- 
tract from it than is the case with the quebracho of Argentina. While 
this fact makes it somewhat difficult to work Paraguayan with other 
quebracho, it is no drawback when the extract is made on the spot 
where the machinery and process is especially adapted for its require- 
ments. It is expected that quebracho extract will be made in large 
quantities in Paraguay and will find a ready and profitable market in the 
United States as well as other countries. 

Railway, Paraguay. Paraguay was the first country of South 
America to build a railway, which was begun as a government enter- 
prise, under Dictator Lopez, in 1859. The engineers were Messrs. 
Burrel, Valpy and Thompson, who had 6,000 soldiers for workmen. 
The road was built in a solid manner as far as Paraguari, forty-five miles 
from Asuncion, and about half way to Villa Rica, the proposed termi- 
nus, when the war broke out and put a stop to the work. (See, 
"War.") Subsequently, the wear and tear of transporting troops from 
Asuncion to Azcurra, left the line in a ruinous condition, until it was 
repaired by Messrs. Travasso & Co. in 1876 and 1877. By virtue of a 
law passed on the 22d of September, 1887, the government of Paraguay 
was authorized to sell the railroad from Asuncion to Villa Rica to Dr. 
William Stewart, for the sum of $2,100,000, with the obligation of the 
purchaser to extend the line to Villa Encarnacion. Dr. Stewart subse- 
quently transferred the contract, as he had a right to do under its pro- 
visions, to English capitalists, who formed what is now known as the 
Paraguay Central Railway Company, Limited. 

Dr. Stewart's contract provided that one-half the amount stipulated 
therein should be paid to the government in cash; the other half in pro- 
portion as each new section of the road, which was to be built, should 
be opened up for public service. The government guaranteed to the 
purchasers an income of six per cent, for twenty years, on the road from 
Asuncion to Villa Rica, and six per cent, also on the cost of construc- 
tion of the extension, at a valuation on which interest was to be paid 
not to exceed, however, more than $30,000 per kilometer of road. 

The building of the road from Villa Rica toward Encarnacion has 
been slow work, and at the present time it is completed only as far as 
Pirapo, the entire number of miles open for traffic on April 30, 1900, 



RAILWAY, PROPOSED. 47 

being 155. For the year ending on that date it had carried 566,455 
passengers, an increase of 22,320 over the previous year; the number 
of tons of goods and parcels transported was 60,855, an increase of 563 
tons over the previous year. The gross receipts amounted to $168,375, 
and the expenses to $104,375, leaving a balance of $64,000. The first 
section of the road, from Asuncion to Paraguari, is forty-five miles long ; 
the second section, from Paraguari to Villa Rica, forty-eight miles long ; 
and the third section., from Villa Rica to Pirapo, sixty-two miles. 

Originally projected as a strategic road, and used as such during the 
only war which Paraguay ever had, the line cannot be regarded as desir- 
able, commercially, as it would be had it been projected and carried out 
for a different purpose. Largely traversing uninhabited regions, where 
there were few forests of any account, such as there are in the north, and 
supplying communication in a territory which is almost exclusively de- 
voted to cattle raising and agriculture on a small scale, it cannot be 
expected to be more successful, financially, than it is. The Company 
has made considerable money in buying and selling lands, however, and 
as seen by the statistics above quoted, is not sustaining any loss, especi- 
ally when the Government guarantee upon the investment is taken into 
account. The Government of Paraguay has been anxious to have the 
road completed, in order to make connections with the Argentine Rail- 
way at Posadas, which is on the opposite side of the River Parana from 
Villa Encarnacion. 

Railway, Proposed. The proposed railway to the yerbales from 
Villa del Rosario to Igatimi, with extension later on to Potrero Lote, is 
a project which promises to be much more profitable than the existing 
railway. The preliminary plans placed in the hands of the Paraguay 
Development Company are made by Sr. A. Meneghezzi, ex-President 
of the National Department of Engineers, and show, among other 
details, the following: The first section of the road is intended to run 
from Villa del Rosario on the River Paraguay in a northeasterly 
direction toward San Estanislas, a distance of 77,900 meters, and 
passing the town of Itacurubi ; a second section from San Estanislas to 
Rio Corrientes, a distance of 56,290 meters; the third section from Rio 
Corrientes to Igatimi, a distance of 58,270 meters; and the fourth 
section from Igatimi to Potrero Lote. The entire length of the line 
from Villa del Rosario to Igatimi would be about 118 miles. The 
engineers estimate that the road, when completed would have a traffic 
worth $611,825 per year in transporting yerba mate, passengers and 
general merchandise. This would be nearly three times as much as the 
receipts of the Paraguay Central Railroad which has 155 miles of road 
in operation. The present production of mate in the region to be 
traversed by the new railway, which is taken into account in the 



48 RAINFALL. 



estimate, is about 38,250,000 pounds per year, and this would be more 
than doubled in a short time. The only present mode of transportation 
is by the River Jejui, in boats, and when the water is low there are 
long delays in transportion, sometimes a whole year and more, all of 
which are bad, as the mate deteriorates in quality, and there is a loss on 
capital invested. Hides, agricultural products and fine woods would 
be carried in large quantities. A more than forty years' supply of the 
very best kinds of hardwood would be opened up, Also rich regions of 
limestone and other products. 

Rainfall. Mr. Henry Mangels, German Consul at Asuncion, 
carefully observed the annual rainfall there from 1877 to 1886, and 
officially reported the average to be 6 1 . 8 inches per annum during that 
period. The rainfall in Paraguay is well distributed, droughts being ex- 
ceedingly rare. October and April are the months in which there is the 
greatest rainfall, but there is no fixed rainy season, such as is found in 
the tropical zones. Compared with the records of Key West, Florida, 
in a corresponding latitude, the records at Asuncion show more than 
twenty-six inches greater precipitation. Mr. Mangels adds: "During 
fifteen years we have not passed one month without rain. In seven 
years, from 1877 to I ^^3> inclusive, the average number of rainy days 
per year was 79 ; of cloudy days, 72 ; and of clear days, 214/' 

Ramie grows very abundantly in Paraguay, and if the difficulty 
of cleaning it could be overcome, it could be made an important article 
of export. 

Religion. The predominant religion in Paraguay is the Roman 
Catholic Apostolic, but the free exercise of other religions is guaranteed 
by the constitution. The city of Asuncion is a bishopric, and the gov- 
ernment contributes liberally toward the erection of edifices and the 
maintainance of a seminary, in which thirty-six students are in charge 
of five professors. Work is progressing rapidly upon the handsome new 
church of the Incarnation in Asuncion, an illustration of which, taken 
several years ago, is found in the present volume. 

Among other denominations represented in Paraguay, are the 
Lutheran and the Methodist Episcopal Churches. The latter has two 
schools in Asuncion, one for boys and the other for girls. 

Revenues, The revenues raised by the government of Paraguay 
chiefly consist of duties on imports and exports, sale of government 
lands, rent of yerbales, patents, official seal paper, postage stamps, gov- 
ernment stamps, etc. The President's last message to Congress notes a 
large increase in the revenues of 1900 over those of 1899. The cus " 
toms duties received from imports and exports amounted to $1,053,- 



REVOLUTIONS. 49 



588.17, and the direct taxes collected amounted to $140,307.53, 
making a total of $1,193,895.70. 

Revolutions. We have already emphasized in other parts of this 
volume the fact that Paraguay is not a country of revolutionary disturb- 
ances, such as too often break out in other South American countries, 
and make investors in the United States timid about placing their 
capital. The only war which Paraguay ever had, with the exception of 
its assertion of its independence from Spain, was a five-years , conflict 
with Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay combined. This was from 1865 to 
1870. Since then no country on the face of the globe has been more 
peaceable. (See, "Wax.") 

Rice is cultivated to some extent in Paraguay, and yields as much 
as 250-fold, two crops being harvested per annum. It is also found in 
some parts growing wild on the banks of creeks and rivers. The Presi- 
dent, in his last annual message, reports that 5,373 acres were under 
cultivation in the year 1900. 

Roads. The rivers of Paraguay afford such excellent means of 
communication that roads, up to the present time, have not been very 
numerous nor very well constructed. The best-known roads are those 
in the valley which extends from Asuncion to Villa Encarnacion. 
There are also certain well-frequented roads leading to the yerbales, but 
as a rule, communication by land is attended with considerable difficulty. 

Rosario. (See, ' ' Villa Rosario. ' ' ) 

Rubber. The Bulletin of the Bureau of American Republics 
states that the manga ice, or India rubber tree, grows abundantly in the 
northern part of Paraguay, and yields an article of excellent quality. 

The learned naturalist, Balanza, in his studies of the Flora of Para- 
guay, confirms this statement from personal observation, saying : "In 
tropical and equatorial regions the plants which produce rubber generally 
belong to the ariacarpeas, euforbiaceas or apocineas. In Paraguay many 
trees may be utilized to obtain this product. 

" A Bolivian recently visited the Department of Villa Concep- 
tion where he met with a great number of rubber-bearing trees, and he 
assures me that in the abundance and purity of the product they do not 
fall behind those which he worked some time ago on the banks of the 
Madera and Amazon. 

" Near Paraguari there abounds also a genus ficus, which on tapping 
exudes a milky juice rich in rubber. Lastly, on the plains of Pirayu-bi 
there grows in profusion in the forests, on the banks of streams, an eu- 
forbicea, whose trunk, five or six meters high, might give considerable 
quantities of this product.' ' 



50 RUM. 

The diploma of honor was awarded at the Exposition Universelle, 
at Barcelona, for an exhibit of Paraguayan rubber. 

Rum. A kind of rum called cafia is made in Paraguay from 
molasses obtained from sugar cane. It is highly prized for its medicinal 
qualities, and when it has acquired age brings a higher price than any 
other cana at the River Plate region. It is largely used in the country 
and also exported to some extent. 

Salt. It may seem strange that Paraguay practically imports all its 
salt, when it has valuable deposits of that article which might be worked. 
In a report made under date of December 16, 1898, the United States 
Consul at Asuncion called attention to some salt mines situated six miles 
from Asuncion along the river Paraguay. No attempt has been made to 
develop the deposits with the exception that a rude evaporating pan and 
an old-fashioned well, about three yards deep and a yard in circumfer- 
ence, are worked by a man and a boy. The imports of salt amount to 
about 46,000 tons per year. 

San Pedro, situated on the River Jejuy, near its confluence with 
the Paraguay, has about 2,000 inhabitants, according to a Consular Re- 
port made in 1899. It is an important headquarters for the yerba mate 
trade, more than 7,500,000 pounds being annually brought to market 
there from the yerbales. Oranges, coffee, rice, sugar cane and maize 
are also largely produced in the district. 

Seasons. The year in Paraguay is divided into two seasons, one 
of which, called Summer, lasting from October to March, and the other, 
called Winter, lasting from April to September. The hottest months are 
December, January and February, and the coldest, May, June, July and 
August. The most temperate month is April. 

Shipping Facilities. (See, "Steamship Line.") 

Slaughtering- Establishment. (See, "Cattle Industry.") 

Soil. "If it be true, as political economists teach, that all wealth 
comes out of the ground, then Paraguay can challenge comparison with 
any land on the globe," says Dr. E. M. Flagg, formerly U. S. Vice- 
Consul at Asuncion. " It is naturally one of the richest countries in the 
world." Others who have been there bear similar testimony. 

Signor William Godio, the Italian explorer of Africa and the Plate 
Basin, in an address before the Geographical Society at Buenos Aires, in 
1886, said of the eastern portion of Paraguay: "One thing alone is 
fixed in my mind, so that it absorbs and astounds me. It is the fertility 
of the soil. How 3hall I be able to make them believe in my country, 
where at present the grape fruits after five years, that I have seen with 



STATISTICS. 51 



my own eyes grapes hanging from shoots planted one month before ? 
Who will believe me when I say that I have seen mandioca of over three 
meters (9.84 feet) in height? Who will believe me when I say that 
they obtain yams of 30 pounds weight?'' 

The Bulletin of the Bureau of American Republics declares : "The 
fertility of the greatest part of the Paraguayan soil is almost inexhaust- 
ible. " 

Statistics. A Bureau of General Statistics has been established 
by the Government of Paraguay, and in accordance with the law of 
November 19, 1898, there have been organized in all the departments of 
the Republic, special commissions, charged with the duty of collecting 
statistics concerning the crops. 

Steamship Line. As already explained, Paraguay does not re- 
ceive the credit which is due her for her commerce, as most of the 
exports, owing to want of direct steamship communication, are merged 
with and reported in the public statistics, as coming from neighboring 
countries, in whose ports the goods are gathered by the exporters, and 
then sent abroad. A direct steamship line between Paraguay and the 
United States is of the utmost importance, and will do much to open up 
more intimate commercial relations between this country and our sister 
republic. The Paraguay Development Company, after studying this 
subject, has made a proposal to the Government of Paraguay, which 
is warmly recommended by the President in his annual message delivered 
to Congress April 1, 1901. He says : 

"The Government has received from the Paraguay Development 
Company of Philadelphia, through our Consulate- General in that city, 
a petition for a subvention for a line of steamers which said Company 
proposes to establish between Paraguay and the United States of North 
America, which matter will in due time be submitted to your consideration. 

" Regarding the importance of this initiative permit me to call and 
urge from now on your preferred attention thereto, taking specially in 
account the sensible necessity of our industry and commerce to search 
and establish new and larger markets, which, facilitating their expansion, 
would contribute positively to its progressive development. These re- 
sults cannot accrue to any country without fomenting and protecting by 
all available means its means of transportation and communication with 
the rest of the world. " 

One of the largest shipbuilding companies in the United States has 
signified its readiness to cooperate with the Paraguay Development 
Company, furnish the necessary vessels, and establish the line, 
providing the subsidy asked for is granted. 

Stock Raising. (See, ' ( Cattle Industry. ■ ' ) 



52 STREET RAILWAYS. 



Street Railways. The principal street railway in Asuncion is 
operated by mule power, and has one branch running out into the 
country on which steam power is employed. There is a second smaller 
concern, which runs what was started as a freight line out to Tacumbu, 
and now also carries passengers. The British consul, in a report on the 
commerce of 1899, stated that the tramways in Asuncion carried 
870,546 passengers during that year. (See, "Electric Lighting, Trac- 
tion and Power." ) 

Sugar production ought to be a large and profitable industry in 
Paraguay, and with modern appliances and enterprise there is no reason 
why the cultivation of sugar cane should not increase enormously. The 
cane grows very abundantly, giving three crops per annum. Each cane 
is about two inches in diameter and six to eight feet high. Thirty tons 
of sugar are obtained, on an average, from each hectare of land under 
cultivation (one hectare equals 2.47 acres). Most of the cane is now 
treated in a primitive manner, being used chiefly in producing cana, a 
native rum, and a thick molasses, which is stored in bags of hide until 
required for use. There is one modern sugar mill, situated on the 
Tebicuary River and the Paraguay Central Railway, in which consid- 
erable capital has been invested, but this is only a beginning. 

According to the President's annual message, 16,201 acres of sugar 
cane were under cultivation in 1900. 

Tariff. Under the new custom house tariff for 1900, the follow- 
ing merchandise is admitted free of duty : 

Barley (without husk), bars for mines, bicarbonate of soda (im- 
pure), books (printed), bottles (common, empty, holding at least a 
liter), carbon of calcium, cattle (breeding), cattle remedies, cement 
(Roman and Portland), coaches (for industrial and agricultural establish- 
ments), coal, crossties for railroads, demijohns (empty), engines (steam) 
and their utensils, fences (wire), fire extinguishers, fish (fresh), fruits, 
furniture of immigrants representing little value, globes, hoes, horses 
(large), implements (agricultural), instruments (scientific), locomotives, 
machetes, machinery and pieces of machinery belonging to industrial es- 
tablishments and to agricultural machinery and for steamers, materials 
and utensils used exclusively for printing and lithography, maps (geo- 
graphical), music (printed), naphtha (impure), pipes (water), plants or 
branches of the same, plows, potash, powder for mines, rails (steel and 
iron), religious objects, resin for soap, rods (gas rods of iron), salt 
(rock salt for cattle), scythes, seeds (not to be used for consumption), 
soda (calcined), soda (silicates of), sulphate of copper, switches, tar, 
telegraph wire, tourniquets, tram freight cars for industrial and agricul- 
tural establishments, turn tables, vegetables (fresh), wheels (small, for 



TELEGRAPH. 53 

trains or railroads), windmills, wire (iron or steel, galvanized or not 
galvanized, to No. 14 inclusive), barbed iron or steel wire for same pur- 
pose. 

On goods other than the above enumerated, the duties range from 
2 per cent, ad valorem to 80 per cent, ad valorem, according to 
schedule. 

All the products and manufactures of Paraguay are free of export 
duties, excepting the following : Skins (cattle), dry or salted, 25 cents 
each ; skins (defective or with holes), 30 cents each ; tobacco in leaves, 
without custom house inspection, five cents per ten kilograms (22 
pounds); yerba mate (leaf or broken), 15 cents per ten kilograms; 
yerba mate (ground), 13 cents per ten kilograms. 

Telegraph. Paraguay had the first telegraph line in operation in 
South America. Several lines go out from Asuncion, the most impor- 
tant one south to Paso de Patria, where a submarine cable joins this 
system, through which communication is had with the outside world. 
This line was finished in 1884. There are 155 miles of line running 
parallel with the Paraguay Central Railway. The total number of miles 
of wire in the Republic, in 1894, was 360. In 1898, 50,894 telegrams 
were sent and received in Asuncion. In 1900, according to the Presi- 
dent's last message, a total number of 83,560 messages were sent and 
received, divided as follows : From abroad, 25,075 ; sent abroad, 23,- 
267; domestic telegrams received, 17,985; domestic telegrams sent, 
1 7,233. 

It is noted that another cable now exists at Villa Franca, which, 
crossing the River Paraguay, joins the Argentine line on the Chaco side. 
There is also in process of construction a branch from Humaita to Curu- 
payty, where another cable will be placed which will join the Paraguayan 
line with that of Argentina at the colony of La Palma, so that there will 
be three lines of communication with the outer world. Other tele- 
graphic lines have been authorized by Congress, and will be completed 
as quickly as possible. Among the improvements proposed is an exten- 
sion of the line from Villa Concepcion as far as Bahia Negra. 

Telephones. Carpenter, in his book on South America, calls 
attention to the fact that Asuncion is equipped with telephones, which 
are owned by a stock company that pays dividends at the rate of twenty- 
four per cent, per annum, though its telephone rates are lower than any 
in the United States. Business houses pay only $2 per month, and for 
residences the monthly charge is only #1.50. The telephone service 
was inaugurated in Asuncion in 1884, when a seven years' concession 
was granted to the company. The telephone exchange is open day and 
night, and about a dozen girls are employed there. The Manager is 



54 TEMPERATURE. 



Senor Federico Fernandez. Asuncion is also connected by telephone 
with Luque, Villa Mora, San Lorenzo and Lambare. The city of Villa 
Conception has a telephone service of its own. 

Temperature. (See, "Climate.") 

Textile Plants. Paraguay produces many fibrous materials of 
great commercial value. A simple list of those which are capable of 
being utilized for industrial purposes would be tedious. To mention 
only a few of the more important, however, we may say, that cotton 
grows in Paraguay all the year round. Ramie produces not less than 
eight crops a year. Former U. S. Vice-Consul Flagg, calls attention to 
the fact that ibrya is a plant with a long, delicate, strong fibre, which 
does not rot. In this country, with improved machinery, it could be 
turned into something very like silk. Caraguata is another valuable tex- 
tile plant of the same kind, which grows spontaneously in every part of 
the Republic. The fibrous substance is contained in its long thick 
leaves, and not in the bark as in jute and ramie. Caraguata is thought 
by some . to equal the Indian jute. Rope and twine made from it are 
practically indestructible. Sansaverde is another fibrous plant which 
might be employed for making imitations of silk. Stronger ropes than 
those made from hemp, are produced from guembepi, a creeper with 
long filaments contained in its bark. These ropes may be kept for a 
long time in water without rotting, and a great demand for its use in 
rope making must ensue when these facts become known. 

Timber. (See, "Woods.") 

Tobacco is one of the chief agricultural products of Paraguay, and 
is cultivated everywhere, no less than three crops being obtained 
annually. Especially fine tobacco is grown in the districts of Luque, 
Itagua, Ita and Villa Rica. The Bulletin of the Bureau of American 
Republic says : " It is well known that the tobacco of Paraguay is of a 
superior quality, and can well compete with that of Bolivia, or even with 
the celebrated Havana tobacco." Many other authorities on the 
subject agree that Paraguayan tobacco, when properly cured, is equal 
to the best produced in any country in the world. It obtained prizes 
at various European expositions, among others, the Exposition of 1855 
in Paris, of 1889 in Antwerp, and in Barcelona, at which it received a 
gold medal. Many years ago, the Vuelta Abajo seeds were brought 
from Cuba and planted in Paraguay, and as in the case of the orange, 
were greatly improved by transplanting, says Dr. Flagg. At the present 
time, however, very little is cultivated suitable for the American 
market, because nearly everyone in Paraguay smokes. and likes a tobacco 
heavily charged with nicotine. Lately, however, efforts are being 



TOMATOES. 55 



made to change this, and when a demand is created in the United 
States, suitable tobacco will undoubtedly be grown down there. In fact 
the Banco Agricola has recently erected several driers in which the 
tobacco is cured after the Cuban system. In a letter received by the 
Paraguay Development Company from the Hon. William I. Buchanan, 
Director of the Pan-American Exposition, under date of July 25, 1901, 
he says: " Paraguayan tobacco, if put in a form which is desirable, 
will no doubt find a market in this country. The general facts are that 
the tobacco is too coarse and requires, in my judgment, that there 
should be sent to Paraguay some thorough tobacco man from Cuba, who 
is familiar with the growing of tobacco for the market of the United 
States. ' ' The Paraguay Development Company is taking the necessary 
steps in the matter, so that a good trade may be looked for in the near 
future. 

Recent advices received by the Company, state that the last lot of 
tobacco sent to Europe by the Banco Agricola brought 65 cents gold per 
kilo, or 29^ cents per pound. The total exports of tobacco amount in 
value to over one-half million dollars per year. The total area under 
cultivation in 1900, as stated in the President's message, was 25,804 
acres. 

Tomatoes produce two crops per annum in Paraguay, and are 
exported in large quantities to the neighboring Republics. 

Topography. That portion of Paraguay lying east of the River 
Paraguay is traversed from north to south by a broad, irregular belt of 
highlands or plateaus (whose elevation nowhere is much over 2,200 feet) 
known as the Cordillera Amambay, Cordillera Urucury, etc. On the west- 
ern side there is a more or less sharply defined edge ; on the eastern side 
they send out broad spurs enclosing deep-cut valleys, so that the streams 
running towards the Parana are interrupted by rapids and falls. The 
most celebrated of these is the Guayra Falls (q. v.). On the other hand, 
the tributaries emptying into the River Paraguay are generally navigable 
as far as there is sufficient depth of water. 

With the exception of a large stretch of marshy country, near the 
confluence of the Parana and Paraguay, and some other portions along 
the rivers, the soil is dry, porous and sandy, produced by the weather- 
ing of the red sandstone, which is the prevailing formation throughout 
Paraguay. 

Traction. (See, "Electric Lighting, Traction and Power.") 

Villa Concepclon, situated 200 miles above Asuncion, is the 
trading centre for the northern mate forests, and is the principal city in 
the northern part of Paraguay. Its population, according to the census 

LtfC. 



56 VILLA HAYES. 



of 1886 was 10,902, and in 1899 this was estimated to increase to 
15,000, inclusive of suburbs. Villa Concepcion has a national college, 
custom house, good harbor, two banks, a branch of the Banco Agricola, 
postoffice, street railway, telephone exchange and five hotels. Most of 
the yerba mate produced in Paraguay is exported here. Fine cattle are 
also raised in the district. Across the river from Villa Concepcion, in 
the Chaco, is situated the English missionary station. 

Villa Hayes. (See, ' c Colonies. ' ' ) 

Villa Igatiini is a settlement in the mate and hardwood forests of 
northern Paraguay, to which the projected railway is to run. (See, 
" Railway, Proposed. ' ') 

Villa Del Pilar is the most important city in the south of Para- 
guay. It is situated on the River Paraguay, 104 miles from Asuncion, 
opposite the mouth of the Bermejo River, and was the strangers* farthest 
limit into Paraguay under Francia's rule. Its population, including 
suburbs, is in the neighborhood of 10,000. The city has a national 
college, custom house, and branch of the Banco Agricola, telegraph, 
postoffice and many other improvements. Its exports of oranges, vege- 
tables, skins and woods are considerable. 

Villa ffciea, situated about 90 miles east of Asuncion is the second 
city of Paraguay, and the chief centre of the tobacco trade. It has 
about 12,000 inhabitants, according to a recent report made by J. N. 
Ruffin, United States Consul at Asuncion. Among the agricultural 
products of the district, in addition to tobacco, must be mentioned sugar 
cane, rice, maize, mandioca, mate, textile plants, oranges, cocoanuts and 
hardwoods. Among its industries are sugar factories, orange wine fac- 
tories, brick and tile factories, distilleries and saw-mills. One of the 
national colleges is situated there, and it also has a branch of the Banco 
Agricola, telegraph and postoffice. Carpenter, in his book on South 
America, states that Villa Rica is considered the most cultured town in 
the country. Its better classes live in large one-story buildings, roofed 
with red tiles, which form comfortable homes. 

Villeta, situated about sixteen miles below Asuncion, has a popu- 
lation of several thousand, and is one of the largest exporting towns for 
oranges and tomatoes on the River Paraguay. There were over 40,000 
head of cattle in the district, in 1899. 

Vital Statistics. In accordance with the law of December 2, 
1898, the gathering of vital statistics has been systematically begun in 
Paraguay, by what is known as the Registry of Civil State. A complete 




£ I 
Argentine 1 Republic, 
Chile, Paraguay, 
and Uruguay. 

Scale of Statute Miles. 

50 100 200 30 

Copyright, 1899, by Hand, McNally & Co. 



55 ; 



:- co. : •; ch 



WAGES. 57 



and accurate record of births, marriages and deaths is hoped for in the 
near future. 

Wages. (See, " Labor.") 

War. The only war which Paraguay ever had, with the exception 
of the comparatively easy struggle by which it gained its independence 
from Spain, was the war of 1865 -1870, into which the people were led 
through the ambition of their last Dictator, Marshal Lopez. He was a 
fierce but brave man, and died fighting, sword in hand. The Paraguay- 
ans, to a man, equalled their chieftan in bravery, and asked and gave no 
quarter in the terrible but unequal struggle against the combined forces 
of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The census returns, before and after 
the war, even though we make allowance for all possible inaccuracies, 
show how bravely the sons of Paraguay died for their country and their 
mistaken leader. From 1,337,439 in 1857, the returns dwindled to 
221,079, in I ^73> including in the latter year, we are told, mostly old 
men, women and children, Over fifty thousand women and children 
were said to have died from famine and exposure in the forests. 

It is true, no such war would be possible again. The new consti- 
tution of Paraguay does away forever with dictators. The people have 
learned their lesson well, and under wise rulers freely chosen by them- 
selves, are determined to seek national greatness by peaceful methods 
only. (See, also, (i History.") 

Water is abundant in Paraguay, not only by reason of the generous 
rainfall, evenly distributed throughout the year, but owing to its many 
rivers, and to the springs which are to be found everywhere. 

For purity this water supply is nowhere excelled. Analyses made 
of the waters of the river Paraguay, early in 1 901, by two learned 
chemists, Ovidio Rebaudi, and Pablo Arata (the latter of Buenos Aires) 
agree in showing that this great stream is one of the finest and best 
bodies of water to be found in the world. We give herewith examples 
of these analyses. The first is by Dr. Ribaudi, and is an analysis of 
water taken from the river above Asuncion : 

f Total Hydrostatics degrees (French) 1. 0500 

Hardness-! Temporary 0.1500 

(Permanent . 0.9000 

Residue at 100 degrees in 10.000 6.2400 

Loss by calcination 1.8400 

Nitric Acid 0.0465 

Nitrous " 0.0000 

Sulphuric Acid 0.1598 

Calcium oxide 5.9864 

Magnesium oxide 0.1204 

Ammoniac 0.0060 

Chloride 0.4500 



58 WATER-FALL. 



Permanganate of potassium employed for oxidizing 

organic matter 1.2600 

Oxygen consumed for the same purpose 0.3243 

Iron oxide . 1. 301 2 

Silex and insoluble substances 0.5198 

The next is an analysis by Dr. Arata, of a sample of water taken 
from the river at Villa Concepcion. It is as follows : 

f Total Hydrostatic degrees (French) 1.35000 

Hardness*] Temporary 0.15000 

(Permanent 1.20000 

Residue at no degrees . . 6.54000 

Loss by calcination 2.54000 

Nitric acid 0.04826 

Nitrous acid . . . 0.00000 

Sulphuric acid 0.33643 

Calcium oxide 0.75600 

Magnesium oxide 0.13691 

Ammoniac 0.00800 

Chloride 0.44375 

Permanganate of potassium used . . 1.83454 

Oxygen consumed 0.46400 

Insoluble substances and silex 1.02000 

Iron and aluminous oxide 0.48000 

Water-Fall. (See, " Guayra Falls. ' ' ) 

Water Works. One of the most important and necessary pro- 
jects to be realized in Asuncion, in view of its rapidly increasing popu- 
lation, is a good system of water-works and sewerage. The Govern- 
ment, realizing this fact, last year ordered its engineers to make prac- 
tical studies of the whole subject. The engineers of the Paraguay 
Development Company will also carefully examine into the matter. 

Weights and Measures. The metric system of weights and 
measures has been officially sanctioned in Paraguay, but the old system 
is still generally used, even in state documents issued as late as 1901. 
For this reason we append its equivalents here : 

The Quintal =101.40 lbs. avoirdupois. 

" Arroba = 25.35 " " 

" Fanega = \ l / 2 imperial bushel. 

" Cuadra (land measure) . . = about 2 acres. 

" Legua cuadrada = 12^ square miles. 

Wheat. The general impression prevails that the climate of 
Paraguay is not as well suited to wheat as to other products of the soil. 
This need be no drawback to the flour industry, however, as that cereal 
is grown in immense quantities in the neighboring Republic of Argen- 
tina, and its entry is permitted free of duty. 



WINDS. 59 



Winds. The wind blows from the south about 118 days during 
the year, and from the north about 103. From the east, it only blows 
about 44 days, and from the west hardly at all. Neither north nor 
south appear to obtain any definite mastery in any month, or season. 
The south wind is dry, cool, fresh and invigorating; the north wind is 
hot, moist and relaxing. Violent windstorms, generally from the south, 
average about sixteen per annum. 

Winter. (See, "Seasons. M ) 

Woods. A large portion of Paraguay is covered with dense 
forests, in which at least seventy kinds of timber fit for industrial pur- 
poses, are to be found. Some of these are as hard as iron, and the fine 
collection of samples in the Philadelphia Commercial Museum, shows 
that most of them are susceptible of a high polish and possess a beautiful 
grain. Excellent cedar woods and substitutes for mahogany can be 
found among, them. The durability and powers of resistance possessed 
by the Paraguayan hardwoods are unequalled by any woods in Europe 
or North America. 

Dr. Flagg, in a recent newspaper interview in Philadelphia, called 
attention to the fact that for use in cabinet work, rosewood easily holds 
the first place, and is abundant and cheap. The black laurel has all the 
appearance of ebony, and is more easily polished. There is a wood 
called in the native language tata-ne, for which there appears to be no 
English equivalent. It has a beautiful yellow color, a very fine grain, 
with the most delicate veins. There is a species called taba, which is 
extremely flexible and can easily be made into bent wood furniture. 
Besides all these, and many more, there is a cabinet wood known that 
might be enumerated as fermale mahogany, which is extremely beautiful, 
very cheap, and easily worked. There are ten varieties of cabinet woods 
so heavy that they sink in water. Among the woods that are useful for 
dyeing and tanning purposes quebracho (^. #.) stands first. 

In an enumeration of the trees existing in Paraguay, to which for- 
mer U. S. Consul Hill called attention in one of his reports, 51 different 
kinds of timber were shown to be suitable for building purposes ; 69 
were medicinal, 43 ornamental, 15 useful for dyeing, and 8 were fibrous 
trees and plants. 

Yerba Mate* The most important native industry of Paraguay is 
the growing of yerba mate, or Paraguay tea. This plant (whose botan- 
ical name is Ilex Paraguensis) is an evergreen shrub or small tree, which 
grows wild in what are known as the yerbales, especially in the north- 
eastern and eastern portion of Paraguay. It is also found and gathered 
in the Brazilian provinces of Parana and Matto Grosso and in the Argen- 



DEC 22 1902 



60 YERBA MATE. 

W- " 

tine Province of Misiones, which are contiguous to Paraguay. The 
latter country, however, is the true home of the mate, which the natives 
had used from time immemorial when its great virtues were discovered 
by the Jesuit missionaries. These cultivated the tea in large plantations, 
but it is claimed that there is no advantage in this, so far as its qualities 
are concerned, although in recent years cultivation is again being tried 
to some extent. 

Yerba mate forms the largest article of export from Paraguay, and is 
sent to most South American countries. In 1896, 5,141 tons were ex- 
ported, and in 1897, the amount was 6,548 tons. Some 20,000,000 
people regularly enjoy this health-giving and strengthening beverage 
about which a whole volume might be written. Its introduction in the 
United States was begun in 1899, by the Yerba Mate Tea Company, of 
Philadelphia, which was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey, 
with a capital of $100,000. The progress made by these efforts has 
been slow up to the present time, although many thousands of dollars 
have been spent in advertising yerba mate in the leading journals of the 
United States. 



The Sunshine Press, 402-404-406 Race Street, Phila. 



